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[Mikep99]

What do you think racechick McLaren people are starting to doubt your man.
I think it's still too early to write him off yet.
I will give him a few more races to prove himself.

Ramirez 'worried' about Hamilton slumphttp://newsonf1.net/2008/news/04/article_Ramirez_worried_about_Hamilton_slump.html
Apr.23 (GMM) Retired long-time McLaren employee Jo Ramirez has admitted that, if he still held his post as team coordinator, he would be worried about Lewis Hamilton's recent form.
Despite winning at Melbourne, Hamilton - last year's championship runner-up as a rookie - was outpaced by his teammate Heikki Kovalainen at Sepang, before his error-strewn run to thirteenth place in Bahrain three weeks ago.
Ramirez, of Mexico, admits that he "couldn't believe my eyes" as the 22-year-old fumbled his way through the most recent grand prix weekend.
"I do not understand how he made so many mistakes," the 66-year-old told the Italian magazine Autosprint.
Ramirez recalls the winter pre-season test at Jerez, where Hamilton was "fully concentrated" and quick.
"If I was responsible for McLaren, I would have to be worried about the situation now," he explained.
"Ron Dennis has already spoken with him about it. In the last five races, his (Hamilton's) error-rate was simply too high," Ramirez said.
He reveals that the original plan for Hamilton's deployment as a McLaren driver was as a full-time test driver in 2007 and a grand prix debut this year.
Ramirez explained that the alternative 2007 pairing of two Spaniards - Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa - complicated the issue and moved Dennis to accelerate Hamilton's debut.
"In the first fifteen races of 2007, the team's trust in Lewis was more than confirmed," Ramirez insists.
But he said that after his disastrous Bahrain outing, the pressure on Hamilton is now particularly high, as he prepares to tackle superior Ferraris in Spain this weekend.
"No-one should forget that he is only twenty grands prix old."

[bud]

well its only really been one race this year he has made mistakes, and 1 win out of 3 races isnt doing too bad, its just media hype similar to Felipe's media backlash

[Denthúl]

I find it amusing that, after a pair of bad races, nobody has started to write him off yet...

Anyway, on to the point, he's still easily in with a shot at the title, that much is certain. But if he doesn't perform well in the coming Grand Prix, I fear that his rivals will start to leave him behind. Even Massa could jump ahead of him, putting Lewis sixth with Trulli and Rosberg not many points behind. I think he will have a good race this weekend. I certainly hope so, because otherwise I think the championship would begin to head in a direction that would see it become slightly boring. Of course, what I really want from this weekend is Heikki's maiden victory.

[f1ea]

So far: 1 perfect race, 1 poor race, 1 terrible race.
While I agree this should be a cause for concern (as this rate will not win a championship). He is in a winning car, and with a solid win he could quickly turn the tables and leave further behind the Toyotas and Williams, or vs the leaders should they have a poor race... I say right now, the pressure is on EVERYONE not just Lewis.

[8-ball]

it was all so easy for lewis when he was the fresh faced rookie. Now the experience of the other guys is starting to come through and lewis is under a little pressure. How he responds in spain will be crucial in seeing whether he has a chance at winning the title. i wouldn't write him off just yet there is still plenty of time

[texasmr2]

Yes I agree it's way to early to start writing him off I'm pretty sure he will eventually regain his '07 form, how soon who know's but it should not be long. My thinking concerning Bahrain is that his poor start killed his race strategy which led to a mental defeat that he could not overcome. He is still young and I want to believe we will see great thing's from him in the future.

[racechick]

What do you think racechick McLaren people are starting to doubt your man.
I think it's still too early to write him off yet.
I will give him a few more races to prove himself.

Ramirez 'worried' about Hamilton slumphttp://newsonf1.net/2008/news/04/article_Ramirez_worried_about_Hamilton_slump.html
Apr.23 (GMM) Retired long-time McLaren employee Jo Ramirez has admitted that, if he still held his post as team coordinator, he would be worried about Lewis Hamilton's recent form.
Despite winning at Melbourne, Hamilton - last year's championship runner-up as a rookie - was outpaced by his teammate Heikki Kovalainen at Sepang, before his error-strewn run to thirteenth place in Bahrain three weeks ago.
Ramirez, of Mexico, admits that he "couldn't believe my eyes" as the 22-year-old fumbled his way through the most recent grand prix weekend.
"I do not understand how he made so many mistakes," the 66-year-old told the Italian magazine Autosprint.
Ramirez recalls the winter pre-season test at Jerez, where Hamilton was "fully concentrated" and quick.
"If I was responsible for McLaren, I would have to be worried about the situation now," he explained.
"Ron Dennis has already spoken with him about it. In the last five races, his (Hamilton's) error-rate was simply too high," Ramirez said.
He reveals that the original plan for Hamilton's deployment as a McLaren driver was as a full-time test driver in 2007 and a grand prix debut this year.
Ramirez explained that the alternative 2007 pairing of two Spaniards - Fernando Alonso and Pedro de la Rosa - complicated the issue and moved Dennis to accelerate Hamilton's debut.
"In the first fifteen races of 2007, the team's trust in Lewis was more than confirmed," Ramirez insists.
But he said that after his disastrous Bahrain outing, the pressure on Hamilton is now particularly high, as he prepares to tackle superior Ferraris in Spain this weekend.
"No-one should forget that he is only twenty grands prix old."

Not worried at all Mikey babe. Still have complete faith in him. So far- 1 excellent race, 1race where things happenened out of his control-otherwise 3rd or more likely 2nd and 1 poor race where an error compounded into further errors. Kimmi was written off last year and he didnt have the escuse of lack of experience.

[McLaren Fan]

It's too early to write off Hamilton, just as it was too early to call him the next Ayrton Senna.

[Denthúl]

It's too early to write off Hamilton, just as it was too early to call him the next Ayrton Senna.

You are correct. Yet after Malaysia, everybody wrote off Massa, which is the part that amuses me.

[racechick]

It's too early to write off Hamilton, just as it was too early to call him the next Ayrton Senna.

You are correct. Yet after Malaysia, everybody wrote off Massa, which is the part that amuses me.

This game goes on. Someone has a good race-they are the next great racing driver, Someone has a bad race and they are over hyped rubbish You have to look a little deaper than that and make your own mind up. For me Massa is a good driver, sometimes a great drive , possibly a world champion if everything fell right but not a multiple world champion- but lewis could be the latter....in my humble opinion of course

[texasmr2]

For me Massa is a good driver, sometimes a great drive , possibly a world champion if everything fell right but not a multiple world champion- but lewis could be the latter....in my humble opinion of course

I agree with that 100%.

[darwin dali]

"In the first fifteen races of 2007, the team's trust in Lewis was more than confirmed," Ramirez insists.

That's the key phrase here. Ramirez doesn't just look at this season's races, but includes in his analysis the last two races of 2007. And out of the last 5 races, LH had one good one with a win, the rest was rather mediocre. 16 pts for LH vs. 39 for KR in those 5 races

[racechick]

"In the first fifteen races of 2007, the team's trust in Lewis was more than confirmed," Ramirez insists.

That's the key phrase here. Ramirez doesn't just look at this season's races, but includes in his analysis the last two races of 2007. And out of the last 5 races, LH had one good one with a win, the rest was rather mediocre. 16 pts for LH vs. 39 for KR in those 5 races

Ok so now look at the beginning of last season (apart from the race when the Ferrari was illegal)- Kimi rather disapointing and talk of him being replaced. Dont tell me you fall for the media crap talk DD

[darwin dali]

"In the first fifteen races of 2007, the team's trust in Lewis was more than confirmed," Ramirez insists.

That's the key phrase here. Ramirez doesn't just look at this season's races, but includes in his analysis the last two races of 2007. And out of the last 5 races, LH had one good one with a win, the rest was rather mediocre. 16 pts for LH vs. 39 for KR in those 5 races

Ok so now look at the beginning of last season (apart from the race when the Ferrari was illegal)- Kimi rather disapointing and talk of him being replaced. Dont tell me you fall for the media crap talk DD

No. And I think the difference is that KR has been a known quantity, an experienced and proven winner for a number of years. KR is not for nothing known as the iceman, a cool customer. We don't have many data points for LH under pressure and I believe that Ramirez is worried about that more than anything else.

[bud]

Sepang he didnt finish as high as his team mate but that was due to a malfunction in the pits, not his fault
i wish people who make claims would look into things and not just into the stats to back up their claims!