The Hamilton hype-ometer reloaded

Steve Ryder welcomed ITV’s viewers to the coverage of the Canadian Grand Prix:

We make no apologies if our race build-up is dominated by Lewis Hamilton because F1 itself is dominated by Lewis Hamilton

The hype-ometer has gone into overdrive following the British star’s maiden pole position – with one newspaper even claiming he’s “about to quit McLaren.

“Lewis quit warning” is the sensational headline on the Daily Mirror. “Lewis Hamilton warned he will quit Vodafone McLaren if he is ever regarded as a No.2 driver.”

And where is the quote to back up this bold statement? Down in paragraph nine we find: “I hate the situation Rubens [Barrichello] was in [i.e. at Ferrari]… If that was ever the case for me I would not be there much longer.”

That’s a long way away from a threat to quit McLaren. But that won’t stop the tabloids trying to pretend Ron Dennis is the bogeyman. From the same piece:

“Several promising futures have been shipwrecked on an agreement to play second fiddle to another driver, among them the talent of David Coulthard while he was at McLaren with Mika Hakkinen.” No, Coulthard just wasn’t quick enough.

Do you see Coulthard criticising McLaren’s management of Hamilton? Read his words from earlier this week:

The British media clearly felt Lewis had been hard done by. They have given the media a potential British world champion this year. So don’t turn around and make McLaren out to be the big bad racing team screwing the nice British driver.

And where did he write those words? On ITV-F1.com.

Perhaps ITV’s reporters should read their own website.

Related links

• The Hamilton hype-ometer strikes back
• Return of the Hamilton hype-ometer
• The Hamilton hype starts here
• Two Lewis Hamilton kart videos

Tags: f1 / formula one / formula 1 / grand prix / motor sport