Hamilton Grabs The Gold Ring.
Written by George Katinger · November 24, 2006
In formula one the brass ring is a racing seat in a top team. On the merry-go-round of drivers grasping for the elusive prize, Lewis Hamilton has latched onto a golden hoop as opposed to a brass ring.
grandprix.com: Hamilton gets the McLaren!
planet-f1.com: Lewis secures McLaren race-seat for 2007
sportinglife.com: HAMILTON ANTICIPATES STEEP LEARNING CURVE
I know what you’re thinking: McLaren, winless in 2006 is considered a “top team”? In the perspective of history, money spent annually, facilities, partnerships (Mercedes Benz, etc.) McLaren is still a top team. Yes they have slipped some in performance, but their ability to rebound is still much stronger than say Williams. And they are always a threat for the championships.
I am totally in agreement with throwing young Lewis into the fray next year. Fans and F1 insiders (not to mention McLaren staff) have expressed concern that the pressure of stepping up to F1 may damage the young driver’s competitive head. I say just the opposite. All the pressure will be on two time champion Fernando Alonso to carry the team. Hamilton will be able to hone and polish his skills in the Spaniard’s immense shadow. And if the car engine and tire package performs well, he may spring a podium finish here and there.
The real pressure is still on Ron Dennis and Norbert Haug. They have a command from Daimler Chrysler head Deiter Zetsche to finish in first place. Nothing less will be acceptable. A measure of Ron’s and Norbert’s concern is their willingness to risk Hamilton next year in competition, in order to score as many points as possible.
Will it work? No. Hamilton and Alonso will be only as good as the package McLaren puts on the track, and with a new chassis-Bridgestone tire combination I would be amazed if they can repeat third place next year. I expect them to slide further down to fourth or fifth place. Honda, Toyota, Red Bull or Williams will all be in the fight for third and fourth place. Yes, the triptophane from my Thanksgiving turkey still has me groggy, but it is a reasonable assumption.
So good luck Lewis Hamilton, here’s hoping you can help restore some of the lustre to McLaren’s faded image and kick start your own career. It’s a great opportunity and from a young man in racing competition since the age of 13 great things will be expected. Not next year, but eventually. No sense in further delaying the start of his F1 destiny.
UPDATE: 11-24-06, 5:45 p.m.
Why Ron Dennis is an idiot. Lewis can win in ‘07, says Ron
Go ahead Ron, start putting the screws to the kid before winter testing begins, let alone the ‘07 racing season! I guess Ron is determined to devalue the team as much as possible to make the Mercedes-Benz buyout a bargain in 2008. Self destructive to a fault, or just an idiot? You tell me.
Comments
4 Responses to “Hamilton Grabs The Gold Ring.”
Got something to say?
You must be logged in to post a comment.
I agree that there won’t be alot of pressure on Lewis in ‘07. If he gets outrun by Alonso every race (which he probably will) it won’t be a big deal - in fact, it is expected.
I think it would have been a better call for McLaren to give Lewis to a junior squad. A seat at a “smaller” team like Spyker MF1 would be smart because of two reasons:
1.) Alonso would have a guaranteed blocker. Pedro de la Rossa has alot more seat time in F1 and would be a much better teammate to aid Alonso. Hamilton will probably face multiple incidents and I doubt he’ll be able to fend off Ferrari/Renault better than de la Rossa.
2.) There would virtually be no pressure on Hamilton. He’d be in last place equipment so if he finished in last place it wouldn’t be a big deal. This would also help the ultimatum that Dieter issued to McLaren Mercedes. Instead of training a rookie driver, McLaren would concentrate on getting Alonso the Championship and making sure de la Rossa is in 2nd to handle the pace of his competitors.
But I think we can all agree on something. It would be one hell of a story if Mika got the ride!
Good points all, DJ. The entire Mika concept has me puzzled. Schumacher has just stated that he in no way will make a comeback in a year or two, the evolution of the cars is so fast paced he wouldn’t be able to transition. Applying that same concept to Hakkinen, what does Mika think he will accomplish? He may be a fail safe back-up to Hamilton. If the kid turns into a total bust they may throw Mika behind the wheel. Which also shows how badly Pedro’s stock has fallen in McLaren’s eyes.
But I don’t think Lewis is being given the drive to trundle around and finish out of the points in a McLaren. He will either be competitive (scoring points) or get replaced some where along the way depending on how badly he performs. I don’t expect him to perfrom badly (unless the new car is a dog), I think he’ll be a front runner. He’ll have his offs and make mistakes but he will score points.
Firstly McLaren as a front running team should be hugely applauded for taking the risk of bringing a rookie driver straight into F1, however, I am astonished.
Having nurtured Lewis through karts, FRenault, F3, GP2 all at MM expense, even on two occasions holding him back & insisting he do another season in a category(where in both cases he then took the title) they now throw him in the deep end.
I thought for certain that he would do a year of testing for MM; the option of being placed at a rear of the grid team seems increasingly impossible these days, STR & Super Aguri aren’t going to blood for Ron & Spyker appears to need a pay driver with a hefty wedge.
When you consider that rookie Rosberg had a year of testing under the belt before stepping up with Williams, & the same applies with Renault’s new driver Heikki K, Hamilton is really being put on the spot with a baptism of fire.
The light shines very brightly on the stage of F1 - particularly in a front running team where your team mate is the reigning world champion - so let’s wish Hamilton well for 07 & hope that this obviously talented new driver has not been promoted too quickly.
Rosberg, Kubica, Heikki & Hamilton, four new young guns in a field of 22, new blood improves the breed, will 07 be the start of a changing of the guard for the next few seasons? It seems like only yesterday we were touting the promise of some new drivers called Kimi & Alonso……………& they’re now veterans.
When this year began I think everyone expected Hamilton to race his second year in GP2 in 2007 and while winning the ‘07 GP2-championship he would also be testing for McLaren preparing for his 2008 F1 debut.
But then the kid went on to completely dominate the series in his rookie season making his experienced team mate Premat (who gave Rosberg and Kovalainen a good run for their money on several occasions in ‘05) look like a nobody.
I really think the fact that Hamilton could win his GP2 championship in his rookie season made it clear to Ron Dennis that this kid can deliver right from the start.