Lewis Hamilton to Mercedes!

[BRPORSCHE]

Wow.

Bet Ron is pissed.

Lewis Hamilton to join Mercedes in $100m move from McLaren - Telegraph

[chapo]

Here I thought they were bringing Fangio back to the Silver Arrows

[Tervuren]

I'd like to see Schumi in a nice ride next year. Hamilton was in a good place, I couldn't fathom dumping a team that is STILL competitive, AND gave you the opportunity to race in F1. Never really been a fan, looks like I won't be anytime soon...

[s_wilwerding]

As much as I love Schumacher, he's not going to be winning any more races. When he came back, a lot of people said it was a mistake, and I disagreed at the time. However, now that he's been back for a few years, not been competitive, crashing consistently, and generally not being able to hold his qualifying position during a race, I think I agree now. I don't know what it is that people lose with age (reaction time, etc.), but he's lost it.

As for Hamilton, talk about biting that hand that feeds. Much as I like Ross Brawn, I'm not sure how upset I would be if Mercedes didn't have a competitive car for a few years.

[herr_oberst]

Lew has been with McLaren for years, he needs new bridges to burn.

The silly season suddenly is now in full swing.

[mph911]

...and Perez to Mclaren!

[tchanson]

I think Joe Saward has summed it up well:


Lewis Hamilton does not know much about racing history and so cannot learn from the mistakes of others. Perhaps he thinks that if it fails he will at least have the consolation of earning loads more money and being a bigger star, thanks to his hustling management that will sell his image here, there and everywhere. That might make him an international celebrity on a bigger scale than he is, but it will not make him a racing legend.

Perhaps Mercedes will pull it off and then Hamilton will look clever, but I fear that this will be a move similar to James Hunt joining Wolf; Emerson Fittipaldi joining Fittipaldi, Jacques Villeneuve moving to BAR or Niki Lauda’s ill-fated move to Brabham. History relates that you do not leave a winning team in F1 unless it is to go to another proven winner…



Tim

[mph911]

However, Schumacher and Brawn turned around Ferrari. Alonso the same in Renault.
Who know's how good Hamilton is with development, Mercedes can only get better.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by s_wilwerding

As much as I love Schumacher, he's not going to be winning any more races. When he came back, a lot of people said it was a mistake, and I disagreed at the time. However, now that he's been back for a few years, not been competitive, crashing consistently, and generally not being able to hold his qualifying position during a race, I think I agree now. I don't know what it is that people lose with age (reaction time, etc.), but he's lost it.

As for Hamilton, talk about biting that hand that feeds. Much as I like Ross Brawn, I'm not sure how upset I would be if Mercedes didn't have a competitive car for a few years.

I've watched two races this year, the opening GP, and Spa. In both races, he really makes it more watchable. Unfortunately, he lost a gear in Spa. Its hard for me watching spa, to think the old man has "lost it", despite car trouble, he did a pretty epic drive. Especially in his battle with Kimi. Even with Kimi's DRS open, MS came out of Ea Rouge fast enough for Kimi to not get him after MS used DRS to repass Kimi.

His last pit entry was pretty good for an old man to.

So, I like having him in the sport, I wish his crew could make less mistakes.

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by mph911

However, Schumacher and Brawn turned around Ferrari. Alonso the same in Renault.
Who know's how good Hamilton is with development, Mercedes can only get better.

It's pretty well known who is good with set up. Hambone isn't. I like to think that there are two great drivers at set up, Alonso and Schumi. It's was clear when Alonso and Hamilton were both at Mclaren that Hamilton just couldn't set up the car as well as Alonso could.

With that being said....Brawn is a VERY good engineer. He can produce excellent cars, but he also needs a driver that can capitalize on that car, i.e. Schumi at Ferarri. I wish Hamilton luck, but I just don't see this going well.

[tevake]

I think this will be a eye opener for Lewis, Don't think he realized how good he has had it. Having the support of such a good team thru his years of development as a driver, and a team at its peak of competitiveness that have treated him so well (even if he doesn't think so) . What a Prima Dona he has become.

Maybe Mercedes is ready to pull it all together and make this move look inspired. On the other hand he may come to realize that his lack of appreciation and loyalty have led him down the wrong path.

I really did enjoy his flashes of brilliance as a racer when he first came up to F 1, But his poor attitude has turned me off over the last couple of seasons.

Now if the Perez going to McLaren twist plays out, that could be some fun to watch. Bet Perez can't believe his luck to have that seat open to him.

Cheers Richard

[andyt11]

I've never really been a fan of Hamilton. Too whiney. I think Perez will be good at Mclaren. He wants it more.

[Tervuren]

Originally Posted by tevake

I think this will be a eye opener for Lewis, Don't think he realized how good he has had it. Having the support of such a good team thru his years of development as a driver, and a team at its peak of competitiveness that have treated him so well (even if he doesn't think so) . What a Prima Dona he has become.

Maybe Mercedes is ready to pull it all together and make this move look inspired. On the other hand he may come to realize that his lack of appreciation and loyalty have led him down the wrong path.

I really did enjoy his flashes of brilliance as a racer when he first came up to F 1, But his poor attitude has turned me off over the last couple of seasons.

Now if the Perez going to McLaren twist plays out, that could be some fun to watch. Bet Perez can't believe his luck to have that seat open to him.

Cheers Richard

FYI, Mercedes is doing a restructure, its management style is changing, and they have more funding. They may have been hobbled the past few years by corporate blah from Mercedes. If that was the case, they will be very fierce in the next few years...

[sammyg2]

If I were running Ferrari (and I'm not) I'd dump Massa and team up Alonso and Schumi.

[doug_porsche]

It could be possible that....

With Ross Brawns strategy, Schumi's tutoring, and Hamilton's natural talent, this could be a great combo!

I have always felt that Hamilton had the natural talent, just not the maturity/leadership to win consistantly. I was hoping that when he was teamed with Alonso that Alonso would be a great mentor. That didnt workout so well.

Being a McLaren fan from back when Bruce built big Orange Sports Cars (what? they had two seats) i hope Hamilton and his new Mercedes finish ahead of Ferrari and behind Mclaren next year. (Still dont know where to put RedBull in my mental lineup.)

[Zeke]

It's been a good season so far with some surprising drives from Lotus. I think they should all switch seats. Take the 2 best drivers and put them in Saubers or HRTs. I wonder what Karthikeyan could do in a Ferrari. He's got to be a decent driver to take his POS to within 107%.

Another thing that pisses me off is that Hammy gets say 20 mil+ to drive and Petrov brings wads of cash with him.

The information on the Net is all over the place with Kimi making anywhere from 6M to 51M per year. I don't think anyone knows any of it for sure, but it would be great if there was more parity.

I'd like to see claiming introduced for the last few races. Yeah, I'll just buy your almost year old car for 10 million. With development well under way for the 2013 cars and even the turbo 6 cylinder cars for 2014, that would open some doors for the lesser teams to have this year's technology to play with.

Now wouldn't that be a gas if Caterham bought a Mercedes and Kovalainen went to the front of the field in the last race? Kinda mince up the championship.

[Joeaksa]

Originally Posted by andyt11

I've never really been a fan of Hamilton. Too whiney. I think Perez will be good at Mclaren. He wants it more.

Too whiney? Talk about whiney and the name Jenson Button comes up. He has no backbone and it shows!

This could be a very good move. Do not agree with it but Louis has made his mind up...

[techweenie]

Watching F1 this year must've been sad for anyone still rooting for Schumi. It's just been a matter of waiting for his crash -- race after race. As a Hamilton fan, I hope this works out for him. That gearbox failure in Singapore has to have been bitterly disappointing. I guess I missed the "whining" though.

[herr_oberst]

Originally Posted by sammyg2

If I were running Ferrari (and I'm not) I'd dump Massa and team up Alonso and Schumi.

I hear that Vettel is trying to get to Ferrari in 2014. so they'll be looking for a placeholder. Mark Webber, maybe?

[tchanson]

Originally Posted by herr_oberst

I hear that Vettel is trying to get to Ferrari in 2014. so they'll be looking for a placeholder. Mark Webber, maybe?

I thought that would be a great fit also, as MW and FA are close, but MW signed for 2013 with Red Bull a few months ago.

The Scuderia may unfortunately have no better option than Massa short term.


Tim