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[deMuRe]

I've just moved back to the UK after being away for 2 years, one thing I couldn't imagine is how Lewis Hamilton mad this country has gone.

He's on the side of busses, in all the magazines, in the papers, on the news almost every day, on television commercials, it's totally mental.

Not even when Button started with Williams did people get this excited...

It's no wonder why he's gone to another country, I couldn't stand all this hype...

[8-ball]

because jenson took over 100 races to do what lewis did in 6. Win. A rookie came into the sport and almost won the title from veteran drivers in his first year. As for him moving to Switzerland it wasn't to get away from the hype it was to enjoy the tax benefits

[Martin]

I've just moved back to the UK after being away for 2 years, one thing I couldn't imagine is how Lewis Hamilton mad this country has gone.

He's on the side of busses, in all the magazines, in the papers, on the news almost every day, on television commercials, it's totally mental.

Not even when Button started with Williams did people get this excited...

It's no wonder why he's gone to another country, I couldn't stand all this hype...

As 8B says, he did achieve a lot in 1 season, more so than any other driver ever I think, however, he has a great marketing team and they are selling his 'brand' really well. I think that he will overtake David Beckham who is currently the most marketd brand.
Alonso became a major celeb. in Spain but was not well marketed. England won the Rugby World Cup 4 years ago (sorry Aussie! - is it still painful?!!) and '2nd' this year the team came home to rapturous appluse but it didn't last long. LH is well managed from a commercial point of view, and good luck to him. I just hope that he can retain his focus and commitment with all this attention and wealth, he is still only a young fella after all.
Of course he would have been advised to move to Switzerland for tax reasons, and why not, but I also think that he would have gone somewhere because of the harrasment that he recieves. Switzerland is a good place if you are very rich but it is also good because there is far less press intrusion.

[raithrover]

It's not so bad up here, but the press have really taken for him. Not only because of his superb achievements this season, but also the national desire to be successful and the best, which doesn't happen too often.

[Selcouth_Feline]

however, he has a great marketing team and they are selling his 'brand' really well. .

Quite. They are even thinking of 'floating' Hamilton on the stock market.

Personally (and I'm a Brit) I'm sick of hearing about Hamilton. Sure, he's done a fantastic job but the way the media write about him, he's on a par with God. Sniff Petrol summed it up very well half way through the season: http://www.sniffpetrol.com/issue082.html

Don't get me wrong - it's nice to finally see the Brits actually good at something, but it's just a bit too silly and OTT for my liking.

[Martin]

however, he has a great marketing team and they are selling his 'brand' really well. .

Quite. They are even thinking of 'floating' Hamilton on the stock market.

Personally (and I'm a Brit) I'm sick of hearing about Hamilton. Sure, he's done a fantastic job but the way the media write about him, he's on a par with God. Sniff Petrol summed it up very well half way through the season: http://www.sniffpetrol.com/issue082.html

Don't get me wrong - it's nice to finally see the Brits actually good at something, but it's just a bit too silly and OTT for my liking.

Yes I read the item Feline. I think that there is a danger of overkill, especially if next season does not go quite as well for LH. I hope that he is able to stay in control of his own destiny. I do wonder if the 'suits' are taking over his life? I wonder how much his dad can help. That he is a fntastic driver (I though so when he was in GP2) is not in doubt, but I am not so sure that he is mature enough to manage the suited preditors and sharks around him now. He knows how to drive, he knows how to set up a car and he knows how to motivate his team but is that all?

[scotty]

I agree with some of you guys here, i think there's complete Hamilton overkill here at the moment.

It's quite disappointing because at the start of the season i know a lot of people who were excited over a young british prospect, only to get sick of hearing about him and eventually dislike him. I would put myself in this group.

And as for the stock market thing - he's literally becoming a sell out if he does that. Ugh, that is really sickening. He's become a yes man to all the crappy mclaren sponsors in my eyes.

[Ron Dennis]

yeah we should be ashamed of ourselves..you'd never see an aussie celebrating winning anything...

[Selcouth_Feline]

yeah we should be ashamed of ourselves..you'd never see an aussie celebrating winning anything...

Don't get me wrong Ron- I think it's great we are finally good at something. However, I'm sick of this whole "Lewis can do no wrong" attitude - a little more balance in media reports would be nice (I know I'm asking a lot )

[McLaren Fan]

because jenson took over 100 races to do what lewis did in 6. Win. A rookie came into the sport and almost won the title from veteran drivers in his first year. As for him moving to Switzerland it wasn't to get away from the hype it was to enjoy the tax benefits

You keep telling yourself that. He said on television that it was a factor but certainly not the reason for him moving. He also said one sentence on it. Compare that with God knows how many sentences on the press etc.

Yes, Hamilton is good but as usual British people - the English in particular - get all excited about their sports 'stars' and bum up their chances of winning. Hamilton may be good, however, he was in the best car of the season. I'm convinced if, say, Rosberg was in the McLaren MP-22 he would have done similar things.

As somebody who is British, all of this Hamilton hype makes me cringe.

[Selcouth_Feline]

Yes, Hamilton is good but as usual British people - the English in particular - get all excited about their sports 'stars' and bum up their chances of winning.

How? Because we put too much pressure on them?

[McLaren Fan]

Yes, Hamilton is good but as usual British people - the English in particular - get all excited about their sports 'stars' and bum up their chances of winning.

How? Because we put too much pressure on them?

You put far too much pressure on your teams by overstating their chances and, when you actually do win something for the first time in ages, never shut up about it.

[Irv the Swerve]

Yes, Hamilton is good but as usual British people - the English in particular - get all excited about their sports 'stars' and bum up their chances of winning.

How? Because we put too much pressure on them?

Well its the same thing with Soccer or Rugby, the media hype things up so the fans think "We can beat everyone" and then nothing.

[Selcouth_Feline]

You put far too much pressure on your teams by overstating their chances and, when you actually do win something for the first time in ages, never shut up about it.

Not *all* of us y'know
But I know what you mean - we're still harping on about winning the football in '66. You'd think we (as a nation) would have got over it by now

[texasmr2]

It's the same all around the word that's just the way it is.