F1 Did Alonso flirt with BMW switch?

[PanterroR]

And when did Schumacher became the complete package? Immediately at 19? Didn't he need to crawl 1st to be able to walk as we say here? He had to learn, a lot... Hamilton will do the same, just give him some time. Did you know everything about car 1st time you got in it? Or immediately when you got your licence? You knew something, but not everything. You had to learn and you're still learning and you will learn as long as you live.

And as far as i remember, noone here compared Hamilton to Schumacher or Senna, that's nonsense. It's just that some are jealous that the kid is skilled, focused and that he drives great! Just leave the kid to do his job, watch and enjoy and stop bitching about him!

 

[Imhotep Evil]

And as far as i remember, none here compared Hamilton to Schumacher or Senna, that's nonsense.

A lot have actually compared him even favorably to Senna, Prost, Schumacher, from internet forum nobodies to former WDCs (Lauda, Stewart).
The one who was down to earth/a voice of reason was Mansell.

Nor Schumacher nor Senna nor Prost nor Alonso started with a top team/car, and the saying is you need 3 years to become good-complete as to truly challenge for the WDC if you had the car (witch usually comes in the 4th to 6th season).

 

[450SEL6.9]

Life is short, seize the day. Why join a top team at the age 26 if you're skilled enough to do it when you're a little over 20 years old?

That's the point I'm confused about. I don't think these guys are skilled enough in all aspects of driving when they come into F1 at 19, 20 with one of the top teams. They can "handle" the car because of all the technology, driver aids, simulators, unlimited testing budgets, etc . . .

I brought up the names of Kubica, Heikki, Piquet Jnr. together with Hamilton, but it's naturally turned into a Hamilton-only discussion.

 

[450SEL6.9]

A lot have actually compared him even favorably to Senna, Prost, Schumacher, from internet forum nobodies to former WDCs (Lauda, Stewart).
The one who was down to earth/a voice of reason was Mansell.

Stewart even said Schumacher wasn't as complete a package as he could or should have been, but Hamilton supposedly can be. He said that after the first few races. Moss even called Hamilton the best thing ever in F1. Really, bigger than Fangio?

I don't really understand their motivation when they heap this sort of praise on any driver. Is this their way of taking a potshot at former champions who eclipsed their own achievements (i.e. Schu - 7 titles vs. Stewart's 3, Fangio's 5 titles vs. Moss's big fat 0)? Maybe I'm cynical, but I think it sounds like Stewart and Moss are taking a backhanded slap at Fangio, Clark, Senna, Prost, Piquet and especially Schumacher when they drool over Hamilton, Vettel or whoever else is the next hot, young star.

By calling any rookie the best thing ever, I think Moss devalues/disregards the achievements of F1's greatest champions. Sure, he's British, but so is Mansell.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

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^ The latest from Peter Windsor's words of wisdom:

...because I think Lewis is better than both Senna and Prost ...

 

[Centurion]

You needed also need (as a truly great) persevirence, pacience, commitment, a technical side, setup knowledge and thoroughness, lots of hard-work and also luck and "size.

I know, and you get the chance to learn all that by becoming a second driver and learn from someone more experienced i.e become an apprentice which is what Hamilton and the other youngsters are. But at the end of the day driving skills come first.

 

[PanterroR]

Nor Schumacher nor Senna nor Prost nor Alonso started with a top team/car...

I knew you'd say that, so that's why i ask:

So f'n what!?!?

How far away (from an engineering point) are cars of today compared to the ones 20 years ago? Isn't it easier today for every single driver to become "complete package" than it was in that time?? Hamilton was born when Prost, Senna, Hill, and such were already pro drivers, recognized and known all over the world; the kid got an opportunity 20 years after to drive for currently the best team in F1 and you, taken from this context, are blaming him 'cause he was born in the wrong time; in time when he didn't need to sweat like Prost, Senna & Hill did to justify the sympathies they were enjoying?

Kid gave thousand of reasons to fans, press and others to praise him... Even to you, IE... Since you're that much in F1, i was expecting something like that from you (giving credit where it's due) and not this...

Plus, we both cheer for BMW, but i'm sure you wouldn't be so picky if he was behind BMW wheel...

Give a credit where it's due and stop living in past... It hurts, obviously... Oh and welcome to the 21st century Formula One...

 

[450SEL6.9]

When did Windsor say that? Did he really say it the way it was quoted?

Perhaps he meant to say, "Lewis is more British than both Senna and Prost." With many of these Brits in F1, being British alone qualifies a driver to be greatest ever. I'm convinced that some of these guys think Damon Hill, the last British champ, is one of the greats in F1's modern era. Seriously, I know they are proud to have a Brit doing well, but some of these guys farting and fanning over him claim to be professional journalists.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

When did Windsor say that? Did he really say it the way it was quoted?

Perhaps he meant to say, "Lewis is more British than both Senna and Prost." With many of these Brits in F1, being British alone qualifies a driver to be greatest ever. I'm convinced that some of these guys think Damon Hill, the last British champ, is one of the greats in F1's modern era. Seriously, I know they are proud to have a Brit doing well, but some of these guys farting and fanning over him claim to be professional journalists.

He really said that in his latest column.
Also:

One thing’s for sure: Lewis handled the whole thing really well in terms of his demeanour and his respect for the team.
(on hungary incident)
...
Lewis-Fernando is a different deal because I think Lewis is better than both Senna and Prost and that therefore the overall differences between the two (Lewis-Fernando) are greater.
...
If Fernando is unsettled, and is considering a backflip to Renault for 08, this can only be good news for Lewis.
(so with de la Rossa allegedly going Prodrive, the car will somehow develop itself)

 

[450SEL6.9]

Oh my f**ken god! Windsor has lost his mind! Let's all pony up a few pounds so he can go back to journalism school and learn how to be objective. I seriously want to puke reading that.

If Windsor thinks ignoring an order and telling your boss to go f$*ken swivel (which TOUI now claims never happened) is a sure sign of respect for the team, then he just might truly believe that Hamilton is better than both Senna and Prost.

I just find it offensive that people associated with F1, whether it is an ex-champion or a writer like Windsor, insist on showing their love for Hamilton at the expense of the sports great drivers. For Senna (41 wins, 3 titles) and Prost (51 & 4) to suffer the indignity of being called inferior to a damn rookie is degrading. As Mansell said, there was a time in F1 where you earned your way in and didn't get rewards and accolades before results. The media and an inability of writers to control their nationalistic pride has changed that.

I'd prefer if these guys just came out and said Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Fangio all sucked and I hate them all. It's better than taking these quite blatant backhanded slaps at them by cheapening their achievements to the point where they are rated below a guy with a massive 11 races of experience.

 

[Imhotep Evil]

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^ The times we live in.