FORUMula1.com - F1 Forum

[myownalias]

Former world champion Nigel Mansell has described McLaren driver Lewis Hamilton as being "manufactured".

Mansell, who won his sole world title with Williams in 1992, is worried by the current trend within the sport of teams signing up promising youngsters on long-term contracts to guide them on the staircase to Formula One.

Speaking at the Hay Festival, Mansell said: "I think sometimes it all becomes too easy. People have said to me 'what do I think of Lewis Hamilton?' and I've said 'Well it's fantastic what he's achieved but he's been manufactured'."

He added: "How many people from seven years of age have been given £2.5million to go karting?

"I know drivers now are being signed up at seven, eight, nine years of age. They're all being picked now, and this is the incredible thing that is so disappointing for me, to be Grand Prix drivers in five and seven and 10 years' time, and that negates everybody out there now doing the job, and that is frightening.

"I don't decry what Lewis [Hamilton] has done, when he initially started having tough times he didn't handle it very well, but that's the first time ever in his life he's had a tough time."

Mansell, who is to compete at the upcoming Le Mans 24 Hour race with sons Greg and Leo, also hit out at the lack of entertainment in Formula One.

He said: "F1 has just lost a little bit of excitement, and the excitement is there when it rains. I think it's wonderful that we're on full tanks again.

"They need to take some safety systems away. If driver makes a mistake, like we did in years gone by, you got penalised for it."

Source: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpres ... VmbdQKgSjg

[racechick]

Its a different world Nigel. Things move on.

[EwanM]

He has a point. In saying that as Racechick has said times have changed and while the average age of drivers has dropped in recent times, there is a sort of process to it now.

No more remortgaging etc.

[myownalias]

Basically, Formula 1 has become the Premier League Football of motorsport... What I find more interesting is his intimation that modern F1 drivers have it easy with diffusers, driver aids such as anti-stall etc, which is true, F1 used to be exciting because drivers made mistakes with no fancy electronics or aero devices to save then. I would love to see the likes of Alonso, Vettel and co driving around for 60 laps in a Mansell era F1 car!

[racechick]

I bet they'd love it!! But the reverse is also true. Schumacher was only out a short time and is struggling to get on terms.

[EwanM]

This is why you cannot compare best drivers ever etc etc. Formula One is never the same.

[racechick]

This is why you cannot compare best drivers ever etc etc. Formula One is never the same.

[bud]

still you cant manufacture talent! you can only nurture young drivers so much, in the end they have to have the skill to make it! Its not like Lewis was picked out of a crowded room ""oh he looks like a good chap lets invest in him"

[racechick]

perhaps a little sour grapes from nigel.

[bud]

perhaps a little sour grapes from nigel.

im sure his sons would have been given opportunities in their young careers thanks to their dad.

[racechick]

perhaps a little sour grapes from nigel.

im sure his sons would have been given opportunities in their young careers thanks to their dad.

Indeed. The opportunities were there for them though Im not sure they decide to go into motorsport until they were older. I dont think they're settin the timesheets alight either.

[Denthúl]

still you cant manufacture talent! you can only nurture young drivers so much, in the end they have to have the skill to make it! Its not like Lewis was picked out of a crowded room ""oh he looks like a good chap lets invest in him"

Whilst that's true, part of the problem is that it might not necessarily be the most talented who get such nurturing, just the most fortunate and some of the best drivers out there have acknowledged this. I don't think it is bad that teams are investing in young drivers and the development programmes that they are put through, but it does make it much harder for the talented guys who aren't in such a programme.

[bud]

still you cant manufacture talent! you can only nurture young drivers so much, in the end they have to have the skill to make it! Its not like Lewis was picked out of a crowded room ""oh he looks like a good chap lets invest in him"

Whilst that's true, part of the problem is that it might not necessarily be the most talented who get such nurturing, just the most fortunate and some of the best drivers out there have acknowledged this. I don't think it is bad that teams are investing in young drivers and the development programmes that they are put through, but it does make it much harder for the talented guys who aren't in such a programme.

all young karters have their own sob stories about not getting sponsorship or what ever compared to the guy out front! end of the day you must be a special talent to get an F1 team to back you at such a young age when there is no guarantees he will make it at the very top!

[The Ram]

still you cant manufacture talent! you can only nurture young drivers so much, in the end they have to have the skill to make it! Its not like Lewis was picked out of a crowded room ""oh he looks like a good chap lets invest in him"

Whilst that's true, part of the problem is that it might not necessarily be the most talented who get such nurturing, just the most fortunate and some of the best drivers out there have acknowledged this. I don't think it is bad that teams are investing in young drivers and the development programmes that they are put through, but it does make it much harder for the talented guys who aren't in such a programme.

Well Hamilton is definitely the most talented of the lot and you can't manufacture talent. Nigel Mansel is just another Hamilton hater.

[EwanM]

Nigel Mansell a Hamilton hater? hahahahah what gives you that idea?