- 02 Jun 13, 19:18#361276Great article:
Get your bark back Lewis Hamilton
LEWIS HAMILTON has been urged to leave the dog at home and focus on getting his own Formula One bark back
Having finally been let off the McLaren leash, there are fears the British driver is being given too much freedom by Mercedes to the detriment of his results.
Hamilton was signed to spearhead the German car giant’s surge up the grid but is being overshadowed by team-mate Nico Rosberg who was expected to be his lapdog.
The build-up to last weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix was dominated by pictures of Hamilton strolling around the yacht-lined paddock with bulldog Roscoe – but it was Rosberg who took another big bite out of his rival’s reputation.
Now it is time for someone at Mercedes to take 28-year-old Hamilton in hand, says John Watson, a five-time winner during the 1970s and early 80s – an era when drivers knew the next race could be their last.
“There is no place for a dog in the F1 paddock,” insists Watson, now a highly respected pundit. “For one thing, it is not fair on the animal. It might be in luxurious surroundings, but an engine firing up is like a firecracker or bomb going off for a dog. It’s not right.
“It just shows that Mercedes are bending over too far to please Lewis. There is absolutely no way McLaren would have allowed it. Lewis wanted more freedom from McLaren and he has got that, but it can go too far the other way.
“Lewis has to decide if he wants to be an F1 driver or a hip-hop star. At the end of the day, you have got to respect the job that you are doing.
“He went to Mercedes with the reputation of being the man who would get the job done. Niki Lauda took the credit for getting him in there.
“Niki is a experienced former driver who won three world titles. You don’t do that just being quite nice and he should be there trying to help Lewis work his way through the problems and point out what Mercedes expect from him.
“If your life was on the line and it was all down to one lap, you would back Lewis over Nico every time. But it is just not happening for him at the minute and he needs to start working out why.”
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100% agreed. I'm a fan of the guy's driving, but it's not at its best at the moment and this time it's not the team's fault.
Breaking News:Lewis Hamilton has officially overtaken The Fonz in race wins. With 88 races less. Lol(Without a specially built blown diffuser, illegal front wing, preferential treatment)
