Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Nurburgring, 2020

“It’s not the most important thing for me to be remembered as being the greatest” – Hamilton

2020 F1 season

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Lewis Hamilton says it is hard to grasp the special place he now occupies in the sport’s history having equalled Michael Schumacher as being the most successful driver in terms of wins.

Speaking to media at the Nurburgring after his record-equalling victory, Hamilton reflected on his achievement and discussed what it means to him in a year when he has used his rising profile to challenge racism and promote diversity.

“Rewriting history, that’s a very, very hard idea for me, personally,” he said. “I can only speak from my experience, but it’s really hard to compute that and put that into reality and meaning.

“Of course, I’ve looked at and I still watch other people who are cool legends in other sports who are chasing historic moments and titles and records that were broken by great legends in the past. And it’s different watching it from the outside than to be in it.

“But what I can say is I’m not done yet. I still feel that I’m able to improve. I still feel like I’m driving at a really good level.”

Hamilton already had one world championship and 21 wins to his name when he arrived at Mercedes as a 27-year-old in the winter of 2012. At that point he had never failed to win a race in every season he raced, but his progress accelerated once Mercedes provided him with the first in a series of highly competitive V6 hybrid turbo cars in 2014.

Ross Brawn, Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, 2013
Hamilton was “still learning about myself” in 2013
He has now taken 70 wins with Mercedes, becoming F1’s most successful driver of all time alongside his predecessor at the team, Michael Schumacher.

“I was still a youngster and still very much learning about myself,” said Hamilton of his decision to leave McLaren for Mercedes eight years ago. “With the team, what I’m really proud of and really happy with is when someone takes a chance on you, which Mercedes did when I was 13.

“And then Ron [Dennis] did, with Norbert Haug and Dieter [Zetsche], when they decided to put me in a car when I was 22. I was working as hard as I could to make sure that they didn’t regret the decision.

“Moving to this team, I don’t know how I knew it so well, but I knew was the right thing for me. I didn’t know how long it was going to take us to win but I loved the idea of working with the guys.”

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Mercedes were almost unbeatable the first three years of the V6 hybrid turbo era. That was followed by three years of closer competition with Ferrari and Red Bull, but in 2020 they have resumed a position of dominance. This has led some to dismiss Hamilton’s success as being more a product of the car than the driver.

“Michael didn’t turn Ferrari around, I didn’t turn Mercedes around”
Team principal Toto Wolff rejects this view. Hamilton admits such arguments as “not the nicest thing to hear” and says they come from a position of ignorance.

“I’m not mad at it. What I do know is that those that often say those things or make those comments, they just don’t know. I think in general, in life, we often can sometimes give the wrong opinion on something when we don’t have the full facts or we don’t have the full knowledge of how it really is.”

Schumacher is often held up as an example of a driver who turned a team into a championship-winning force – in his case, Ferrari. But Hamilton says that is no more true of the seven-times champion than it is of himself at Mercedes.

“Having now been in the sport this long, years ago I remember when they talked about Michael turning Ferrari around, the fact is it’s not one individual,” said Hamilton.

“I have not turned Mercedes around. Michael did not turn Ferrari around. As much as I love Michael and he was a legend, it wasn’t just him. There’s so many people in the background.

“What they did is the collaboration. The thing with a driver like Michael and our job is to be the rudder. You’ve got this huge, powerful force behind you with such intelligence. But on a computer, in numbers, it will tell you that the optimum, the perfect car is so-and-so. But when you apply the human element, which is myself or Michael, drivers, our job is to steer it.

“There’s some things the computer can’t simulate and that’s feel. That’s the feeling of the car turning and pitching and all these different things. Our job is to steer the team in the right direction to progress forwards. And our job is to continue to elevate and push and hopefully inspire those guys that you work with. So that’s something I’ve been incredibly proud of.”

Equalling Schumacher’s record has long seemed inevitabile for Hamilton. He has faced questions about it for several years, but largely declined to engage with the subject until the milestone result was reached.

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Hamilton admitted it was an emotional moment to become the second driver in F1 history to win his 91st race last weekend. He called his father Anthony, who poured years of effort into getting his son’s racing career off the ground, and stepmother Linda afterwards.

Anthony Hamilton, Lewis Hamilton, Interlagos, 2008
Hamilton and his father have grown closer since his first title
“My dad and I have never been so close,” said Hamilton, whose career was managed by his father until 2010. “We’ve never been as close as we are now. Which is, for me, remarkable. It brings me so much happiness.

“We talk a lot which I never, ever thought me and my dad would do. We speak often and whenever we do we spend time we were together last weekend before the last race, also. And we have grown-up conversations about all sorts: Politics, food training, relationships. I never thought that I’d be in that place with him.”

The pair reminisced about Hamilton’s beginnings in motorsport when they spoke after the race. “He’s like ‘remember when we were sitting having that bacon sarnie on the Sunday watching the race?’, or ‘do you remember that time when we won the championship and the guy that you’re racing who had millions his wheel fell off and we sang we are the champions driving home?’

“We reminisce a lot because it’s been an emotional rollercoaster and it was so hard. So hard for my dad. I can only try to imagine at his age how it was mentally, how it was the struggle with work. I can only try to comprehend how difficult that was.

“I never fully understand it because I’ve not been in the exact same position. But we talk about it a lot. We were there together through it all and so he was just proud of me.

“[On Saturday] he texted me and he said ‘you know what to do tomorrow, I know you’re going to do it’. And that’s how he’s been from day one. Family is everything. I feel really fortunate to have a dad who’s been there from the start, supporting me through thick and thin all the way.”

In recent years Hamilton has spoken more candidly about the challenges he faced as a young black racer competing in largely white sport. As he draws closer to becoming the outright most successful driver ever in the history of Formula 1, Hamilton says he no longer feels negativity towards those he feels tried to hold him back.

“I do remember very, very clearly those who threw abuse at me. Horrible words. I remember teachers who tried to stop me and get in the way. But I don’t feel any negativity towards them.

“I don’t know if today bugs them, that I am successful or maybe they’re grown – I’m sure they have, because that’s how we are in life. I’m sure they’ve grown through their past experiences and hopefully they’re better people and I hope they’re proud that they knew me or could say that they were part of it, if they want to.”

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes, Nurburgring, 2020
“The more important things are what you do out of car”
Throughout 2020 Hamilton has been more vocal than ever in promoting diversity in F1 and challenging racism. He has previously said this means more to him than equalling Schumacher’s records.

“What’s been really clear to me is, yes, it’s so great having these wins. But I think the more important things are what you do out of car. That’s really where I think the impact can be made.

“I’ve never, ever really wanted to be remembered other than to my family. But obviously, having these results, this journey that I’ve had with my fans, hopefully they will remember me. I would imagine all of you want to be remembered for being a good human being and someone that actually cared about the world and did what they did with great intentions.

“It’s not the most important thing for me to be remembered as the best or the greatest, as I said, because I have so much respect for those drivers in the past. I don’t feel like I need to compare myself to them because I’m different. And we all are different and unique.”

2020 F1 season

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77 comments on ““It’s not the most important thing for me to be remembered as being the greatest” – Hamilton”

  1. His legacy is in the making.
    He is the only driver that’s known to anyone, from my little sister to my mother.

    1. Funnily enough you could say that about Moss, Clark, Andretti, Senna, Schumacher even Mansell in their day.

      1. I don’t believe that. How would they even know about them if they didn’t follow F1? A few lines on the sports pages? The first one I ever came across that might have broke out of F1 into mainstream was Stewart. he did a lot of mainstream media and cultivated celebrity friends. The rest were just names to people outside of the racing world. Maybe Senna a little, or Mansell once he broke in the States? Hamilton is the first F1 superstar that’s broken down those barriers. Not sure Max or anyone else are the type to be a ‘celebrity ‘ or have that charisma or whatever it is that makes you a household name these days. Probably for the best. Think I’d like to believe Hamilton is a bit of a one off and we can get back to drivers thanking their sponsors and giving us bland non-committal answers to every question.

        1. Should have mentioned the main driver to wider recognition for anyone these days. Social media.

          1. I think you severely underestimate how famous the likes of (especially) Senna was in his heyday.

            Senna was a world wide cultural name up there with the likes of Michael Jackson, Madonna, Coca-Cola in the 80s and 90s.

            His reach was far outside of the sport itself.

        2. @ian dearing the key word is ‘in their heyday’. 12 years ago, if anyone said f1, the common person would say ‘schumacher’ even though he’d left

    2. depends where you live I guess. people know Alonso too

    3. Everyone knew who Senna was and if someone had some knowledge of F1 they knew Prost. Everyone knew the Schumacher name by the mid-2000’s.

      1. Dave (@davewillisporter)
        13th October 2020, 17:34

        Pretty rare group though isn’t it? Senna, Prost, Schumacher, Hamilton. I wonder what they all have in common? I guess I’ll have to read some books to find out……..

        1. It’s a shame that fangio, clark and ascari aren’t so well known to the general public, but it’s probably cause there’s not many f1 fans around nowadays that were following back in the 50s or 60s.

    4. Here is a good reason why you should never ever discredit or diminish Hamilton”s success
      click
      https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=GBg8jxJlv4I

  2. You say anything nice about Lewis and it brings out the others. So I’ll say this. It’s been great to watch. A decent guy too. He is yet to reach the real meaning of his accomplishments. He’s just a kid who can kick ass in the most advanced racing cars ever devised. It’s cool. Who’s next? Is that person even behind the wheel yet?
    Most of his fans like the way he comes across. A good champion.

    1. Well said.

  3. He is also the most dislikable. I dont know anybody who really likes him. Most times when a driver is in such superior car that the team dominates, thisntends to be the trend.

    1. @cdfemke
      Comes with the greatness.
      The hate will eventually turn to admiration when he stops racing.

      1. Colonel_Blimp
        13th October 2020, 14:25

        He’s grown on me, he’s more passionate and more eloquent.
        It’s clear he has made a big effort to educate himself on lots of things, learn new things and become a more rounded person and therefore is more likeable as a consequence

        When he was younger it seemed to me he had very little life experience, or knowledge about the world and was a bit dull because of it and therefore harder to like.

      2. Very true! I was never a fan of Michael when he was racing and I always rooted for the Mclarens but I’m bloody lucky I got to see him race and have a huge amount of respect for him and his impact on the sport.

    2. GtisBetter (@)
      13th October 2020, 15:53

      You disliking him is something totally different than claiming he is the most dislikable in absolute terms. People like and dislike different things. There is no indication that people dislike drivers in a superior car.

    3. I like him! Anyone else?

    4. Speak four yourself-i like him

  4. Thanks Lewis. Now you and all of us can regard the subject as closed for good.

    1. Afraid not sheila. Just you wait until WDC No7 and 8 is in the bag! Plenty more dark days ahead for you Rodber.

  5. Schumacher did turn Ferrari around. There has probably never been a more influential driver in a team than Schumacher.

    Vettel thought he was going to be the guy by learning Italian.

    Hamilton is very hands off by his own admission.

    Whereas Schumacher drove the culture at Ferrari.

    1. How do you know…. where you there at both factories?

      G

      1. Just how he knew everyone at the factory, knew intimate details about their lives, never blamed the team or anyone on the team when a car failed him.

        Other drivers are on the radio accusing their team of sabotaging them when things don’t pan out as they would like..

        1. When you say ‘other drivers’ you mean Lewis, and that would be correct.

          As for Schumacher, yes you’re right about him. I just detest the way he hung about after his retirement to push things for Massa and sabotage Kimi where possible, esp in 2008. Unfortunately he was successful to some degree.

        2. Do you know that Lewis also doesnt do this for the Team? That he doesnt make a personal effort with his colleagues?
          We all know that Mercedes famously has a “no blame culture”

          G

          1. Bit embarrassing for some. Priestley has just done two videos on how much work Hamilton always put in at the factory and with the team. And havent people like Allison and Russell talked about his work ethic, staying to 10 most nights in the paddock? But seems that others on here know differently.
            And I would guess that the group within Mercedes who go off to do dangerous sports together would be pretty tight knit. Certainly tests the ‘no blame culture’. Can you imagine the calls Wolff gets from the press; ‘Why is your chief strategist and star driver racing superbikes around Jerez?’ and ‘did you give them and Cullen permission to just thrown themselves out of a plane?’
            Seem quite a loyal bunch as well. Very low turnover amongst those who work with Hamilton.

          2. Dave (@davewillisporter)
            13th October 2020, 16:48

            Agreed. Certain people seem to put more faith in their own opinions than those of people actually there at the time. Don’t know whether it’s just ignorance or something else but it is sad. The facts are, reading Lewis’s comments informs us on his nature, which is a country mile away from the way some portray him. Ross recruited him as their next big thing, which he became, Toto, James Allison and Andy Cowell could not speak higher of him, he’s helped achieve near record breaking dominance to which everyone in the team and the driver pundits who have been team mates or raced him at the time also credit him with yet some would rather go up against a couple of thousand people who are actually involved with their armchair opinions.

    2. Dave (@davewillisporter)
      13th October 2020, 17:40

      Cognitive dissonance = “Schumi did this and that was the reason for the team’s success and dominance. Hamilton did that but the success and dominance was just the team and the best car.”
      Jean Totd? Na Schumi. Ross Brawn and Byrne? Na Schumi. James Allison? Na Schumi. Dominicalli? Na Schumi.
      Mercedes? Ah best car. Lewis? Lucky, best team, already a winning machine.
      Get over yourself.

    3. F1oSaurus (@)
      13th October 2020, 20:56

      True, just as much as Mercedes top has told that Hamilton helps motivate the team and that his input is invaluable in development direction for continuously improving the car. Of course they don’t do it alone. They play a part in the whole.

      Still, some drivers don’t play that part as well. Like Verstappen. Or to be frank Alonso. They come more from a place of anger and negativity. So you do see a difference.

      1. Mostly well said, though I think you are wrong about Verstappen @f1osaurus – I do personally think the culture at Red Bull has some issues, but from all the interactions we can see, he does certainly inspire his team, not just in what he achieves in the car but also outside of it.

        He’s still a lot younger (and different culture at the team) so he might not always come across that way from the outside (but again, also see what Hamilton says about him in earlier years, compare w. Priestley (social media F1elvis) wrote/keeps saying about him), but given he learned to work until perfection from his father from a young age, that shouldn’t really be surprising. After all, his team are clearly very hard working, and I cannot see them (dr. Marko?!) putting up with someone who wouldn’t (also one reason Vettel believed he could do that sort of job at Ferrari, having sort of already done it at Red Bull – but, different teams).

        1. F1oSaurus (@)
          14th October 2020, 15:44

          @bosyber Verstappen raging at his engineer for suggesting what is best? ranting on the radio about whatever is crap? How would that motivate the team?

          In fact it cost them an engine manufacturer. It’s already embarrassing if the engine fails, but if it gets such a rage quit from Verstappen it looks a 1000 time worse.

          Perhaps Verstappen could at some point learn to be better, but I don’t see how something like that would change. Alonso never changed.

          Sure Marko also notched that Brazil 2018 blunder up to immaturity, but it must be frightening to him as well that Verstappen holds such a grudge that he rather would lose the race entirely for “settling a feud” than just let it go. He even went so far to defend Verstappen’s cringeworthy rant at his engineers in Spain and count that as adrenaline and “not seeing the whole picture”. Either way, how could that kind of poor behavior win him bonus points with Red Bull management?

  6. When you read or hear Lewis’s actual comments, the subtle nuances and how humble he comes across, it really beggars belief that there are so many people out there that continue to hate him – no matter what.
    Just look at some of the things he has said in this interview alone…..

    I have not turned Mercedes around. Michael did not turn Ferrari around. As much as I love Michael and he was a legend, it wasn’t just him. There’s so many people in the background

    And then Ron [Dennis] did, with Norbert Haug and Dieter [Zetsche], when they decided to put me in a car when I was 22. I was working as hard as I could to make sure that they didn’t regret the decision

    I do remember very, very clearly those who threw abuse at me. Horrible words. I remember teachers who tried to stop me and get in the way. But I don’t feel any negativity towards them.

    I don’t know if today bugs them, that I am successful or maybe they’re grown – I’m sure they have, because that’s how we are in life. I’m sure they’ve grown through their past experiences and hopefully they’re better people and I hope they’re proud that they knew me or could say that they were part of it, if they want to

    What’s been really clear to me is, yes, it’s so great having these wins. But I think the more important things are what you do out of car. That’s really where I think the impact can be made.

    I’ve never, ever really wanted to be remembered other than to my family. But obviously, having these results, this journey that I’ve had with my fans, hopefully they will remember me. I would imagine all of you want to be remembered for being a good human being and someone that actually cared about the world and did what they did with great intentions.

    It’s not the most important thing for me to be remembered as the best or the greatest, as I said, because I have so much respect for those drivers in the past. I don’t feel like I need to compare myself to them because I’m different. And we all are different and unique

    This guy, irrespective of his achievements on the track, should be a role model for all of us

    G

    1. @unklegsif Glad to see there’s a few people that see things the way I do :-)

    2. Agree! Get in there, Lewis!

      1. Yes, I like the comments he makes in general.

        However I think most people will notice hamilton’s career lacked a part: overperforming with a bad car: for such a strong driver that raced so many years it’s baffling he only had to deal with a bad car for half a year in 2009, seasons like 1996 and 2012 for alonso and schumacher were special, not to mention the 2nd mclaren stint for alonso.

        That is why there’s not a number that imo can put hamilton further on a best drivers of all times list, but there’s actions he could do, example fangio was very special cause he won for 4 different teams, hamilton certainly could’ve won 2018 for ferrari, but he’s also a loyal driver, so it’s unrealistic he changes team, doesn’t help that nowadays you’re either in a mercedes or simply have no chance to win titles.

        1. Schumacher didn’t really have very bad cars either though (the Benetton wasn’t the 1992-3 Williams, true, but very good, and his first Ferrari was only a step down because of where he came from, and he barely had time in that Jordan!), but it was clear from the start he was special, and so it was with Hamilton. And on the other end of the F1 spectrum, Fangio made sure wasn’t in that bad car either! In the middle, Clark was in a very good Lotus.

          My point is @esporatore, that while not all of us might have seen those earlier guys drive, so less hard to judge against them, the very best do not need a bad car to show they can be consistently impressive, but it does seem to be true that until they are in a consistent fight in a good enough car, it is hard to judge whether they can sustain that into a championship, let alone do it year in year out (Lauda in that respect is quite impressive, doing it after coming back, and I though Prost was in the outright best car when he returned, he still had to keep it up in 1993).

          Read that comment from Mika Hakkinen (was that yesterday or today in the round-up) – it takes effort to string together so many good results, a special dedication. That’s why Vettel, despite his recent errors, remains impressive for those four years in a row.

          And why Alonso is also exciting to look forward to from next year, as despite not winning the WDC after 2006, he showed we can be certain he will be there if given the car to do it, and even w/o that, he will show impressive stuff. Like Verstappen has been doing these past two years at the least.

          1. Sorry, typo @esploratore, and a rather long post. We have all seen Hamilton be frustrated (2011!? maybe 2016) when things didn’t go as he wanted, though I’d say he grew after that, but even in his bad years, he still did plenty of great drives. And even in his non WDC years, Schumacher, Alonso, were still showing impressive stuff (MS: those Merc. years, not a great car, and yes, some seeming odd mistakes, but also very good drives in between, though not as consistent anymore, perhaps)

  7. Say what you want about Lewis, but he always speaks very openly, honestly and with a clarity of thought that is rare for a racing driver. It is his best trait in my book…other than the way he rotates an F1 car that is.

    The debate about who the greatest is irrelevant. There are at least 20 drivers I could rattle off and make a very solid claim to that title, but it does not matter. What we should do as fans of the sport is sit back and enjoy watching greatness in action. Talents like Hamilton don’t come along often. I’m grateful that, when he does eventually retire, I will have watched his entire career unfold before my eyes. It has been a privilege watching him do what he does.

  8. He’s undoubtedly one of the best, and his place in the history of the sport is guaranteed. Speaking personally though I don’t like him, and certainly don’t consider him ‘the greatest’.

    1. Yes, me neither but he often makes good comments such as these.

      I could make a case for him being around the top 5-7 of all times, I think he could be up there with prost and alonso and probably better than lauda, senna, stewart, subjective ofc; the only group I’d for sure have above him is schumacher, clark, fangio, ascari.

  9. So far cdfemke has the number one comment of the day. I admire the extent of understanding you spent coming to your conclusions. With great depth and certain knowledge of Lewis Hamilton I think you are commenting as well as you can. Even though most disagree at least you made your point.

    1. It’s just a clone account of you, Bondo, Rodber and various others, with the posting rules of this site that @keithcollantine hasn’t updated with Google and the 1,000 gmail accounts anyone can have: [email protected], [email protected][email protected], with some of the accounts supporting Lewis even, so you can post whole arguments and threads.

      1. Josh (@canadianjosh)
        13th October 2020, 16:07

        Lol that’s sad if indeed he has more than one account, truly sad.

        1. @zann @canadianjosh The David Bondo | Rodber ‘conversation’ above is hilarious, it’s like Gollum talking to himself in LOTR, creepily moaning as they lurk in the dark about how Lewis has stolen ‘their precious’. He obviously hurts them a lot. As their idol Trump would say, sad, very sad.

          1. The main thing is the replies, and Lewis threads are the place to get them. Or make them of course

  10. Personally I can’t stand religion, or tattoos, or bling or hip-hop, and his hair is just ew. Luckily I like empathy, thoughtfulness, loyalty, generosity, and really really fast, fair racing. So I try not to be shallow myself, and voila I’m having a great time with F1 right now.

    1. F1oSaurus (@)
      13th October 2020, 21:04

      @zann Ha, ha, indeed. Totally agree and I also dislike all the things you mentioned.

      I’m also more into the actual racing he’s showing. It’s just astonishing to see Hamilton perform at the extreme level he is year after year. The relentless consistency at such a high level that Hamilton shows is what is killing Bottas. Bottas admitted that is something that he just can keep up with.

      Besides Hamilton, there is no driver in F1 right now who can do that. Senna and Schumacher could also. Perhaps Alonso to some extent. Sure some other drivers can be fast(er) now and then, but to be on it on pretty much every track and under all conditions is just something else.

      1. Yes @f1osaurus, how he treads the line between ferocious and fair is the most amazing thing, and the constant extreme level as you say. Fernando is pretty much the same I think, I’m looking forward to having him back, and then it’s the two old guard versus the young guns Max and Charles, and perhaps Lando. F1 is terrific atm, and actually a bit relevant even, thanks to you know who.

  11. Josh (@canadianjosh)
    13th October 2020, 16:13

    I’m definitely not a huge Lewis fan but the best drivers are put in the best cars, paid the most money and are expected to deliver and Lewis has more than delivered. I get sick of seeing him on the top step but someday looking back I know I will miss it because as fans we want the best possible drivers on the planet and he is just that.

    1. Do you get sick of seeing Nadal win the French Open, or equal Federer’s 20 majors? Excellence is excellence in any sport and F1 is lucky to have Hamilton. If someone wants to beat Nadal they’d better outplay him. If someone wants to beat Lewis they’d better outdrive him. And don’t bring up cars. Hamilton only drives for Mercedes because he earned the drive and keeps delivering wins and championships. Likewise with Schumacher and Ferrari, Prost and McLaren, Clark and Lotus, Vettel and RB.

      1. Josh (@canadianjosh)
        13th October 2020, 19:41

        That’s exactly what I said there yellow flag, I said he’s the best, he’s delivered and someday I’ll look back on his dominance and miss it. I can’t imagine F1 without him to be honest but I think you misread my post.

      2. @greenflag
        It’s not a fair comparison though. Nadal is not outclassing everyone else at Roland Garros because he has a premium tennis racket and the rest of the players play with inferior materials.

        If someone wants to beat Lewis they’d better outdrive him

        Button & Rosberg have already did that.

        1. F1oSaurus (@)
          13th October 2020, 21:05

          @tifoso1989

          Button & Rosberg have already did that.

          No they didn’t. Outscored and outdrive is not the same.

          1. Not this button thing don’t you dare. Lewis beat Button 2 seasons to 1. If that was drivers championships that would be two titles to one you wouldnt say that button beat Hamilton then would you.

            In addition to this, the 2011 season was the worst for Hamilton and the difference clearly in the number of DNFs. Look at the qualifying head to head in that season (78% in hams favour), or points where both actually finished the race (65% in hams favour).

            Im sick and tired of hearing this button beat Hamilton nonsense. 2-1 end of discussion.

          2. F1oSaurus (@)
            14th October 2020, 11:08

            Ehm, no. Hamilton scored more points than Button in 2010 and 2012. So 2-1 for Hamilton. End. Of. Discussion.

            The thing is Hamilton completely annihilated Button, but due to unluck or perhaps trying to hard to actually perform rather than cruise home he lost more points.

            Take 2012. Hamilton finished ahead of Button 8 vs 3. Yet Hamilton scored only 2 points more due to all the DNF’s

        2. Tifoso1989:
          You wrote: “It’s not a fair comparison though. Nadal is not outclassing everyone else at Roland Garros because he has a premium tennis racket and the rest of the players play with inferior materials”
          I addressed that in my original post. Perhaps you missed it. Have another look, it starts: “And don’t bring up cars.”

        3. Meh, he’s had a long career and several strong teammates. He collected some battle scars and suffered the odd lucky punch. In the end he broke all the records and will retire as a legend.

          Good on everyone who outshone him for a fleeting moment. Would’ve been a lot more boring without them.

      3. Josh, I didn’t misread your post. Maybe you did.
        1) You actually wrote “I get sick of seeing him on the top step…”. To which I replied “Do you get sick of seeing Nadal win the French Open…”.
        2) Great repartee with the yellow flag comment. Who helped you write that?

      4. Nadal wins the French Open on merit.

        Driving a Mercedes in the hybrid era is like starting every match with a one set lead.

        Just my opinion.

        For every 2 Hamilton wins the other side of the garage still wins 1 race which is a somewhat poor return.

        1. Exactly. He’s one of the great, but if your team mate always picks up the win when you don’t…. starting every year with a 50% chance on the WDC with the WCC already bagged before the season starts… for 7 consecutive years… Kind of takes the shine away and puts things in perspective, dont it?

  12. Greatest is usually people in the past, but in 5 years with 50 more wins and 2-5 titles extra, history will practically write itself.

    1. The problem is not his stats, it’s how they were made, 50 more and 2-5 titles will not change anything if they’re with the same dominant team and weak team mate dynamic.

      1. He is not the goat but the loat; luckiest of all time

      2. F1oSaurus (@)
        14th October 2020, 11:57

        @esploratore It’s funny how people are fine with Schumacher’s weak team dynamic. Actually, contractually agreed to have the focus on Schumacher fully.

        While Hamilton always has had at least a fair fight with his team mates. The only time he didn’t have a fair fight (when McLaren was helping Alonso) he came out on top anyway.

        Dominant team is a consequence of Hamilton motivating the team and helping them in the right development direction.

  13. You will not be remembered as the greatest.

    1. Webber was the greatest.

    1. F1oSaurus (@)
      14th October 2020, 11:57

      We will never know what w did wrong so badly that we deserve Bondo.

  14. “It’s not the most important thing for me to be remembered as being the greatest” – Hamilton

    Don’t worry Lewis, you won’t. You are a likeable fellow and one of the best, but your car chipped in too much in the balance to be considered the greatest

    1. F1oSaurus (@)
      14th October 2020, 12:04

      Well this season it is yes. Verstappen and Red Bull are really abysmal at developing their car and Ferrari cheating has killed them. Not really Hamilton’s fault that they are performing so poorly, but sure it makes things a lot easier for Hamilton. Just like Vettel blundering away 2017 and 2018 did.

      But how about 2019? Hamilton won (or at least finished ahead of the faster cars) in Bahrain, Baku, Canada, Hungary, Russia, Japan, Mexico. In Mexico he was in the third fastest car and still won that race.

      Overall he won 8 races not starting from pole. A record.

      1. A record, and also a testiment on how sweet Leclerc and those engine modes were.

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