Tiger Woods: The Lewis Hamilton Of Golf?
Written by George Katinger · April 17, 2007
Confused by my title? Just a little bit? It’s okay; sometimes even I’m not sure where the hell I’m going!
Tiger’s accomplishments in golf are universally recognized and we all will be fortunate to see more before his run is finished. Young Lewis is just making his mark in F1, and in a big way. Three races into his career, three podiums, statistically tied for the driver’s championship and a huge role in McLaren’s early lead in the constructors title chase. And a whole lot of expectations placed on his young shoulders.
The point I’m rather laboriously building up to is Hamilton’s ability and or willingness to resist the temptation to start believing all of the accolades heaped at his feet. An altogether different form of pressure compared to mere expectations. As a rookie he was/is expected to err, make mistakes on the track, in the garage, in his public personae. Especially in dealing with one Fernando Alonso, two-time and back to back defending world champion and teammate. So far he has not put a wrong foot, or tire, forward.
With three weeks to the next race in Barcelona, there will be even more pressure for quotes and comments from the media, especially the British media. The Brits doting attention to Lewis can be most accurately summed up by the phrase “Jenson who”? With an appallingly poor performing car and team, the first time F1 winner in 2006 and soon to be crowned next British driving champ has been cast aside like yesterday’s fish and chips. Witness some of these headlines and stories.
Sun.co.uk: Hamilton: I’ll reign in Spain
Telegraph.co.uk: Young pretender ousts Alonso from spotlight
Grandprix.com: Could Hamilton be a rookie World Champion?
Thisisnorthscotland.co.uk: F1 GOLDEN BOY HAS WHAT IT TAKES
And you can find dozens more of the same, and not just from Britain, but from around the world. Which is the most appealing aspect of F1, its world wide following.
On a personal level writing this next part is really going to hurt. I think Ron Dennis has done a marvelous job stewarding Hamilton’s career. Not only as an up and coming talent, but this season in particular. He has spoken the right mix of praise and caution as to the performances and expectations. Old Ron has not done much to endear himself in my eyes of late. 2006 had to be the nadir of his McLaren tenure. But I have to give credit where credit is due.
My only concern with all of the above? Don’t drop the ball now. Now is not the time to be thinking of going to Spain and beating your teammate at his home GP. Or dwelling on a rookie world champion. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind, given a ten year run, we all will be calling Tiger Woods the Lewis Hamilton of golf. Just give the young man a chance to get through his inaugural season. It’s good to be a McLaren fan!
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While there is no doubting his talent & time will tell if he is a WC, consider this; if he had been a McLaren last season - or any of their recent seasons of woeful performance - we would be seeing him finishing no better or worse than Kimi or JPM did, & he would be just another driver. How fortunate for Lewis that he arrived at Ron’s team whilst the team has hit a golden period. Conversely, the public could not see the feats rookie Alonso was performing in his back off the grid Minardi that only the team itself could marvel at.
The much touted Button arrived to a decent Williams car, & while it was never going to be a race winner, he had a honeymoon rookie year with a decent car under him. All perceptions went out the window the following year, when equipped with a wretched Benetton, where he was comprehensively slaughtered by his team mate Fisi.
Good luck to Lewis, being paired with a double WC in your rookie year is a challenge I believe a lot of other drivers would have shied away from. It sounds cruel on my part, but having had three dream runs, he really needs to make a rookie error to “get it over & done with” it will act a character builder & hopefully stop the Brit press building him up into the greatest driver that ever strapped on a helmet (although something tells Lewis has been groomed to be immune to the sort of b/s that has played havoc with the heads of Button, DC, Hill & Mansell).
I am struck by the irony that WC Mika joined the team in 93 & yet had to wait until the last event of 97 before winning a race, & it wasn’t until 98 that he had a truely competitive car under him, Lewis may well snatch a victory in his first year.
Maybe Spain this year, and/or Canada. They have long straights where the McLaren can shine as in Malaysia.
Relative to making mistakes, Ron has even anticipated that by stating Lewis has accumulated enough brownie points in his first three races to offset any future goofs.
I truly hope the pressure builds a better person and driver as opposed to crushing him.
I’m tipping Lewis for the U.S GP for the same reason. A long straight & Alonso traditionally struggles there. Canada seems a logical choice.
You heard it first here, Lewis for pole & the win at IMS.