The problem facing most successful Formula One drivers is when to hang up their driving boots. Michael Schumacher who once ruled the F1 world quit the sport and his Ferrari team only to return to the embryonic Mercedes outfit before it began to achieve its level of success.
The German ace won two titles with Benetton before moving to Ferrari who were under reconstructive surgery. The iconic Italian marque came good and Schumacher rode the wave of success winning five more drivers’ championships between 2000-2004.
Schumacher return to F1 failed
Two years later Schumacher quit the sport having been defeated by Renault and Fernando Alonso whilst deriving Ferrari cars which were most unreliable. As fate would have it Ferrari won the drivers’ title the following year with Kimi Raikkonen and the constructors championship the two years following.
For whatever reason, Michael Schumacher returned to F1 with Mercedes who had been recently acquired from Brawn GP. His team mate was Nico Rosberg.
During their three seasons together Rosberg eclipsed the ageing champion and in qualifying the count was 43-15 in favour of Rosberg whilst Schumacher finished ahead of his team mate in the Grand Prix on 22 out of 57 occasions.
Schumacher was then forced into retirement as the Mercedes hierarchy recruited Lewis Hamilton from McLaren to ‘head up’ their driver pairing as the new era of the V6 turbo hybrid power units loomed.
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Hamilton of course was the primary beneficiary of the subsequent Mercedes domination of F1 winning six titles with the silver arrows and matching Michael Schumacher’s all time record of seven championships.
Schumacher failed to quit while at the top as did the next dominant driver Sebastian Vettel. The Red Bull protege claimed driver titles from 2010-2013 and dominated his experienced Australian te4am mate Mark Weber. Yet the V6 Hybrid era caught out Red Bull’s power unit supplier – Renault – and Sebastian’s dominance was no more.
Todd insult to injury Daniel Ricciardo was brought in to replace Webber and this Australian proved to get the better of Vettel. So when Ferrari came calling in 2015, Sebastian high tailed it to Italy where both he and the team flattered to deceive in their pursuit of uber dominant Mercedes.
Vettel finished his career struggling to qualify in the top 10 at Aston Martin and each weekend was a battle to claim a even a meagre haul of points. So another F1 champion ended up retiring far from the top of his game.
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Hamilton odds stacked in his favour
Lewis Hamilton has lived the dream since being a child. His father worked three jobs to fund his karting ambitions. Then a precocious approach from the 10 year old Lewis Lewis Hamilton to the McLaren legendary boss, Ron Dennis, sealed his fate – as the middle aged white guy began funding Hamilton’s racing progression.
In Karting as in all motorsport, money delivers results and with the backing of McLaren, Hamilton went on to sweep all before him.
Lewis Hamilton is clearly one of the best drivers ever produced by Formula One, but the deck has been stacked heavily in his favour since his. Rookie year in the sport.
McLaren inexplicably having recruited reigning world champion Fernando Alonso as Lewis team mate, favoured Hamilton in his first season when inter team disputes came along. Alonso left after just one year and Lewis famously won the drivers title in 2008.
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That said, it has since been tainted given the recent revelations from Bernie Ecclestone that both he and Max Moseley knew one event that year was rigged and the result should have been scratched from the championship. This would have made Felipe Massa F1 world champion that season.
Riding the wave of success following his Mercedes move, Hamilton grew in confidence and looked beyond F1 to find fulfilment. Over the years Lewis developed into a diversity campaigner and supported the Black Lives Matter political movement demanding his fellow drivers take the knee before the start of each Grand Prix.
Lewis recently slated Red Bull’s Dr. Helmut Marko for alleged racist comments he made against Sergio Perez. Hamilton called on Red Bull to “bench” their outspoken advisor despite Perez stating he had not been offended.
Hamilton now faces a new two year contract with Mercedes which in all probability will see him struggle for race wins. The development curve of McLaren and Ferrari may well eclipse the path of Mercedes and leave the once rampant champion battling for minor points each week.
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F1 driver tells Lewis “Stop moaning” its lies
The ongoing narrative has grown louder from Lewis over the two years he has failed ton win a race. His diversity appearances and opportunities to comment are now more frequent than ever.
The seven-time champion’s quest to improve diversity, inclusion and opportunity within the paddock and beyond has been built on his superstar platform as he consistently promotes his Mission 44 and Mercedes’ Accelerate 25 and Ignite initiative helping force the issue.
Yet now a former F1 driver has spoken out telling Lewis to “stop moaning.” A part of the constant narrative from Lewis has been how he lacked support in the early days and it is he who will step up and deliver this for the next generation.
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Perry McCarthy who was part of the4 doomed Andrea Moda team in 1992 tells EssentiallySports: “Lewis shouldn’t moan so much about a lack of support, because he actually got something that a lot of people had dreamed of. Like that Ron Dennis, the head of McLaren for example, was there and believed in you.
“What Lewis did next was pay back the belief every time, because Lewis was and is brilliant. So Lewis had the opportunity and he seized that opportunity every time with everything he had. But Lewis shouldn’t talk too much about a lack of chances.”
Of course by continuing in F1 as an ageing driver with a team unable to deliver a championship winning car, Lewis risks following the patch of Schumacher and Vettel, where his best driving fades to become a distant memory and his causes become his real driving force.
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With over 30 years of experience in Formula 1 as an insider journalist, I have built trusted connections across the paddock, from race engineers and mechanics to senior team figures. At The Judge 13, I and a handful of trusted colleagues share exclusive Formula 1 news, expert analysis and behind-the-scenes stories you will not find in mainstream motorsport media.
I’m trying to see exactly where it says “it’s lies” as suggested in the article headline. That little titbit has been conveniently omitted.
So Lewis got a chance from Ron Dennis. Where is Ron now? How many chances is he passing out these days? Are there any other Ron like characters out there handing out chances to aspiring drivers with no rich daddy to buy them the very best equipment?
I applaud Sir Lewis in his endeavour to give to people that love motorsport something he was given, a chance.
Your ‘Sir’ Lewis is a mediocre driver that can only win in the best car and with a docile teammate that makes way for him whenever necessary.
He gives up very easily and wants to exit a race as soon as he feels the car is not good enough.
In a lesser car, in stead of giving his stinking best to squeeze everything out of it (ike ALL other drivers do), he only manages to moan and complain and blame everything and everyone but himself.
He does not like to test (his own words) ergo, other people must do he work for him while he parades at fashion shows and travels the world to tell other people how they should behave.
Let’s applaud him some more so his ego can reach solar system levels
Lol
First off, the best car always wins..unless you name is Sergio Perez.
Second, Sir Lewis has partnered with and beaten 3 championship winning drivers.
Third, at various times last year there were up to 8 cars faster than Lewis, Aston. Ferrari Mclaren and RB. Sir Lewis beat 6 of them to finish third in the championship.
Fourth. Last year’s F1 drivers voted Sir Lewis the second best driver on the grid. These are people who know their stuff.
And lastly given those brief facts, your opinion has about as much value as a fart in a storm.
“driver that can only win in the best car and with a docile teammate that makes way for him whenever necessary…”
Surely you MUST see the irony in that statement…. or maybe just your prejudice against Lewis won’t let you