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Lewis Hamilton joins F1’s very best after becoming serial title winner Lewis Hamilton joins F1’s very best after becoming serial title winner
(about 1 hour later)
Next to his brilliance at the wheel, Lewis Hamilton is noted for his mood swings. He is the grand prix driver who does not appear to have had Kipling’s lessons about triumph and disaster recited to him from the cradle onwards. Whatever is going on in his life tends to be reflected in his face and in his performance. Next to Lewis Hamilton’s brilliance at the wheel he is noted for his mood swings. He is the grand prix driver who does not appear to have had Kipling’s lessons about triumph and disaster recited to him from the cradle onwards. Whatever is going on in his life tends to be reflected in his face and in his performance.
His mood will never have swung higher than after the result that finally, at the end of his eighth season in Formula One, sets him on the path to becoming one of the great champions, a status that is earned only by winning the title once and then going back and winning it again.His mood will never have swung higher than after the result that finally, at the end of his eighth season in Formula One, sets him on the path to becoming one of the great champions, a status that is earned only by winning the title once and then going back and winning it again.
The extraordinary dimension of Hamilton’s talent was established in his very first season through a combination of virtuosity, ruthlessness and panache that led some of the greatest names of the past, including Stirling Moss and Niki Lauda, to lavish superlatives on the 22-year-old newcomer.The extraordinary dimension of Hamilton’s talent was established in his very first season through a combination of virtuosity, ruthlessness and panache that led some of the greatest names of the past, including Stirling Moss and Niki Lauda, to lavish superlatives on the 22-year-old newcomer.
Since then his career has been marked by deep troughs as well as sublime peaks. But by recapturing the world championship in Abu Dhabi this weekend he has put an end to a little noticed but persistently troubling phenomenon: he has become the first British world champion since Jackie Stewart over 30 years ago to win the title more than once. Since then his career has been marked by deep troughs as well as sublime peaks. But by recapturing the world championship in Abu Dhabi this weekend he has put an end to a little noticed but persistently troubling phenomenon: he has become the first British world champion since Jackie Stewart over 40 years ago to win the title more than once.
The greatest champions are serial winners by nature. Since 1973 and the last of Stewart’s three victories, the championship has been won seven times by Michael Schumacher, four times by Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel, three times each by Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna, and twice by Mika Hakkinen and Fernando Alonso. In those three decades Britain has had five champions: James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Hamilton and Jenson Button, each of whom, until this weekend, had managed only a single victory. The greatest champions are serial winners by nature. Since 1973 and the last of Stewart’s three victories the championship has been won seven times by Michael Schumacher, four times by Alain Prost and Sebastian Vettel, three times each by Niki Lauda, Nelson Piquet and Ayrton Senna and twice by Mika Hakkinen and Fernando Alonso. In those three decades Britain has had five champions: James Hunt, Nigel Mansell, Damon Hill, Hamilton and Jenson Button, each of whom, until this weekend, had managed only a single victory.
Hamilton now stands behind Stewart and level with Graham Hill and Jim Clark on two titles. With 32 grand prix victories, he has won more races at the top level than any other British driver. But does he really deserve a place among their company? Hamilton now stands behind Stewart and level with Graham Hill and Jim Clark on two titles. With 32 grand prix victories he has won more races at the top level than any other British driver. But does he really deserve a place among their company?
Such exercises in comparison tend to err either on the side of enthusiasm for the current hero or a stubborn defence of the heroes of a golden age. There is not much doubt, however, that Hamilton belongs with the very best – which in terms of pure genius as well as achievement probably means Clark and Stewart, with an obligatory mention of Moss. He never won the title but is seen by many as belonging among the very best of all time regardless of nationality (and had this weekend’s double points been available in the final races of 1957 and 1958, he would have retired a double champion). Such exercises in comparison tend to err either on the side of enthusiasm for the current hero or a stubborn defence of the heroes of a golden age. There is not much doubt, however, that Hamilton belongs with the very best – which in terms of pure genius as well as achievement probably means Clark and Stewart, with an obligatory mention of Moss. He never won the title but is seen by many as belonging among the very best of all time regardless of nationality (and, had this weekend’s double points been available in the final races of 1957 and 1958, he would have retired a double champion).
For Hamilton, too, there is the satisfaction of becoming the 10th driver to win the title in more than one make of car, thus ending speculation that his long relationship with McLaren was the key to his success.For Hamilton, too, there is the satisfaction of becoming the 10th driver to win the title in more than one make of car, thus ending speculation that his long relationship with McLaren was the key to his success.
At the end of 2012 he made the decision to leave the Woking team to join Mercedes. He had made a cold but correct judgment about the deficiencies of the team who had nurtured him since childhood and spotted the potential in a struggling rival.At the end of 2012 he made the decision to leave the Woking team to join Mercedes. He had made a cold but correct judgment about the deficiencies of the team who had nurtured him since childhood and spotted the potential in a struggling rival.
No less interesting than Hamilton’s place in the pantheon is his role in the social development of a sport that began, and has continued to evolve, largely as the playground of rich white men and their mechanics.No less interesting than Hamilton’s place in the pantheon is his role in the social development of a sport that began, and has continued to evolve, largely as the playground of rich white men and their mechanics.
The world champion from Stevenage is a one-man demonstration of the mistake Bernie Ecclestone made last week when he declared, in an interview with the magazine Campaign Asia, that Formula One is less interested in attracting young fans than in keeping the loyalty of 70-year-olds who can afford the products and services of the series’ major sponsors, such as Rolex, the Swiss watchmaker, and UBS, the financial services company. The world champion from Stevenage is a one-man demonstration of the mistake Bernie Ecclestone made last week when he declared in an interview with the magazine Campaign Asia that Formula One is less interested in attracting young fans than in keeping the loyalty of 70-year-olds who can afford the products and services of the series’ major sponsors such as Rolex, the Swiss watchmaker, and UBS, the financial services company.
With his diamond ear studs, his carefully designed facial hair and his laconic street diction, Hamilton shows that grand prix racing has room for a personality very different from the traditional mode of the European or South American racing driver. Socially more at ease with rappers in a recording studio than with his rivals in a pre-race drivers’ briefing, he unapologetically brings the flavour of another world to a paddock in which unfamiliar modes of behaviour are greeted with scepticism.With his diamond ear studs, his carefully designed facial hair and his laconic street diction, Hamilton shows that grand prix racing has room for a personality very different from the traditional mode of the European or South American racing driver. Socially more at ease with rappers in a recording studio than with his rivals in a pre-race drivers’ briefing, he unapologetically brings the flavour of another world to a paddock in which unfamiliar modes of behaviour are greeted with scepticism.
Jacques Villeneuve was gently mocked for his grunge-influenced wardrobe. Fernando Alonso attracted a boy-band following. Sebastian Vettel brought with him a boyish irreverence. But Hamilton appeared to open up a whole new dimension.Jacques Villeneuve was gently mocked for his grunge-influenced wardrobe. Fernando Alonso attracted a boy-band following. Sebastian Vettel brought with him a boyish irreverence. But Hamilton appeared to open up a whole new dimension.
He offered his sponsors a chance to broaden their market and the men who run the sport should have taken his appearance as a cue to sell grand prix racing to a younger audience. Instead the ticket prices remain prohibitive for most families while Ecclestone burbles on about plundering the disposable income of septuagenarians.He offered his sponsors a chance to broaden their market and the men who run the sport should have taken his appearance as a cue to sell grand prix racing to a younger audience. Instead the ticket prices remain prohibitive for most families while Ecclestone burbles on about plundering the disposable income of septuagenarians.
But now, at 29, Lewis Hamilton has won his second title, banishing his own residual uncertainties while removing any lingering doubts among others about his standing. Throughout the season he has risen above the occasional error to reaffirm the brilliance of his driving and the ferocity of his competitive spirit while putting a gloss on a season of mounting disquiet within the sport.But now, at 29, Lewis Hamilton has won his second title, banishing his own residual uncertainties while removing any lingering doubts among others about his standing. Throughout the season he has risen above the occasional error to reaffirm the brilliance of his driving and the ferocity of his competitive spirit while putting a gloss on a season of mounting disquiet within the sport.
The opportunity for further glory lies ahead, on a trajectory that will perhaps be a little smoother. The opportunity for further glory lies ahead on a trajectory that will perhaps be a little smoother.
The story is far from over.The story is far from over.