Do you think Hamilton has what it takes to make it in F1?

Question

He is still quite young and has been pushed up the driving ladder fast, this could give him an advantage in the ever changing world of F1 but it has'nt seem to have paid off for Rosberg who it seems is feeling the pressure

Answer 1

He shouldnt get the Mclaren drive ... yet. they should effectively loan him out to a lower team where the pressure wont be so much and let him gain some experience in F1. Paffet and raikkonen should be drivers.

Answer 2

Lewis Hamilton has gone `off the boil' a bit in the last couple of GP2 races, but I think it's a temporary thing. I'm desperately hoping he doesn't turn out to be another Jan Magnussen (he dominated the 1994 British Formula Three series but was a bust in Formula One and everything else since).
However, I think Ron Dennis will handle Hamilton's F1 career very carefully. My spies in the media centres (at F1 races) are speculating that Pedro de la Rosa will start the 2007 season for McLaren, with Hamilton (and Gary Paffett) handling much of the test duties, but he could drive some Grands Prix near the end of the season.
You have to believe Ron Dennis is paying close attention to Nico Rosberg's fledgelings F1 career, but, he has to be aware that Rosberg doesn't have the best of equipment this year, so we're not seeing his real potential.

Answer 3

I don’t really know what gives you that idea (that he’ll do just fine in F1 as he does now), Formula 1 is the fastest and hardest motor sport ever and whoever it was that made a change from one series to F1 never got the pace right at the first season, it will be hard to bear the change from one type of racing to another and he must struggle the first two years just like every other debutant (by the way Rosberg is in his first season so don’t expect a lot of him right now, but he has a bright future in F1)… and to answer your question I believe that Hamilton will race for McLaren after two or three years, but for now I anticipate for Gary Paffit to come out of the shadows and start racing in his true form!

Answer 4

I think he certainly has enough talent to be in F1....after all, he is leading the GP2 series, isn't he? I presume he will be going to Mclaren in the not too distant future. They don't make slow cars (unreliable at times maybe). If Mclaren stays one of the top 3 constructors, I would not be at all surprised to see Hamilton in the points on a regular basis, if not on the podium. Nico Rosberg is not doing too well purely I think because of the lack of performance from the car. Can Hamilton be world champion? bit too early for that, but to be a champ you need talent, great team and car, luck and a good dose of feistiness, or what we Aussies like to call mongrel. Michael's got it, Alonso's got it, Kimi, in his subdued ways, has it, Senna had it by the bucketful. Does Lewis? don't know him that much, but he would be making a lot more noise and news if he "had it"

Answer 5

Glad you asked that question. I was going to ask if it would be worthwhile for Ron Dennis to share driving duties in the McLaren for the rest of the season between Paffett, de la Rosa and Hamilton. The team can't win the Driver's or Manufacturer's Championship this year so there wouldn't be as much pressure as starting in a new season. What do you think?

Answer 6

I think he does but it's going to take him a few years. He's going to need the backing and support of the mcLaren team in order to reach his full potential. Look at Button, he was a very talented, highly tipped youngest when he joined F1 but its taken him over 100 grand prix to win his first race. Hamiltion will succed only if he produces relatively good results and doesn't expect success to happen overnight. But yes, i think he will do very well, eventually.

Answer 7

We will soon see as with driving performances in GP2 that have been put in this year he will certainly be given a chance, though this chance will depend on the competence of the car he ends up driving , he could be one of the best and end up like Button, super smooth with a car that just won't do it consistently
with the right drive I think he would have as good a chance as many but better than most

Answer 8

I think he is way too inexperienced to join the current ranks - I am happy with how Nico is coping up, but you clearly can see the difference between him and Webbo ya ?I don't think Hamilton is as good as Nico even - so he better stay there for at least one more season.

Answer 9

Yes, but as the questioner said, does not always convert when you move to the top league, but he seems to be more steady and reliable, just depends as well which team or teams have openings to take him on, might have to wait for the ProDrive in 2008

Answer 10

Hamilton. Isn't he the pig in Maggie and the ferocious beast?