Hamilton's F1 Career....

Now I know it's early days yet, but I can't help but noticing something interesting about Lewis Hamilton's comments at the end of the season, and post season.

First of all, when he was in trouble for the safety car incident, he responded with a disillusioned quote of

"If this is the way it's going to keep going, it's not somewhere I want to be," (Genuine Quote)

Now since then, in an interview about his staying in F1 with Mclaren, he said he'd like to be with the Woking team for as long as he's in F1. "However long that is" (Genuine Quote)


Now perhaps I'm reading too much into a couple of throwaway quotes, but does that sound like a racer who is obsessed and intends to spend his entire racing career in F1? It doesn't to me.

It sounds to me like he has every intention of looking to other challenges once he's had enough of F1, which could happen sooner rather than later if the pathetic intrusive media circus continues to follow him around the world.

[AlfaJack]

Agree with your thoughts. I get the impression he might like the challenge but not the lifestyle and attention so much - good on him!

[ode]

Good lad

I always wondered what it is that keeps drivers in F1 for so long, sure it's supposed to be the pinnacle of motorsport, the best cars, the best teams, the best tracks, and so on, but really, all it looks like to me is a big expensive *****ing competition, where unless you're in one of the top six cars, you've got absolutely no chance of getting near the podium.

If I was good enough to drive professionally, I don't think I'd even bother with F1, the Formula and tin-top race series' seem to be so much friendlier and much more fun.

I suppose the motivation for most of them is the insane salary and playboy lifestyle, neither of which appeal to me either. Well, the money would be nice


Lewis Hamilton driving a 159 in a works Alfa WTCC team, anyone?

[BigFoot]

I think you're on to something Driver. Fact is, if I were 22 years old and suddenly earning millions of pounds, I wouldn't want to plan a long term career: just long enough to have enough money to enjoy myself for the rest of my life.

[Stori]

so his planned Float of Hamilton PLC is a way of getting the money even faster

[BigFoot]

Didn't Justin Wilson do the same a few years back? Though I recollect that was to help him raise money to finance his racing.

[Ralf S.]

My heart bleeds....

What a miserable and ungrateful woose!

Ralf S.

[Drivers71]

The drivers who have stayed in F1 for a long time (and some of them for too long) have one thing in common: They don't have egos, or consider themselves celebrities. I also don't consider success in their chosen profession or sport, automatically brings this 'celebrity' status upon them, as it is largely self-inflicted and actively sought. Those who are hoisted by their own petard deserve it (whatever that analogy actually means - but I hope it's as painful as it sounds)

[Stori]

A Petard is an explosive device used to blow up the 'door's or walls of a fortification...so when you get hoised you really get hoisted

[PC7671]

To be honest I don't really understand why some one like Alonso doesn't go off and try rallying or GT racing. He's 26 double F1 world champion, multimillionaire. Whats the point in staying and trying to win a couple more championships?

Originally Posted by PC7671

To be honest I don't really understand why some one like Alonso doesn't go off and try rallying or GT racing. He's 26 double F1 world champion, multimillionaire. Whats the point in staying and trying to win a couple more championships?

Comfort zone?

I admire any driver who branches out and tries something different than expected, like Mansell going to indycar, or more recently Montoya's move to NASCAR.

[Drivers71]

Here here HST! Gone are the days when several GP drivers would come out in one or even two of the supporting races on the same day as the GP.
('Supporting races' - I'm showing my age here. Nevertheless, seeing the likes of Peterson, Ickx, Regazzoni, Andretti driving in WC Sports Cars on alternate weekends to GPs was amazingly good)

[mojo_jojo]

Hamilton's career could end up like Stirling Moss's F1 career - the almost man.