Lewis Hamilton
(18 May 2007)
It was interesting to read the reactions of journalists and motor racing pundits after Lewis Hamilton's sensational arrival in Formula 1 this season. After the first race in Melbourne, many were still firmly sitting on the fence, not wanting to commit themselves and forecasting problems to come.
One read, for instance, several predictions of even better results than the second place he achieved in Australia, but also of days that suggested he would look like the rookie he is. After four brilliant races, which have put him in the lead of the World Championship, we are still waiting, and I for one see little evidence of his rookie status.
He may be new to F1, but there is no way he's a rookie. I previously forecast that, since he was in complete control of his GP2 car last year, and with his constant-pressure approach to driving, the increased performance of a Grand Prix car would merely offer him a chance to extend his range still further.
This seems to be what has happened. While other drivers falter when they reach F1, Hamilton has found that with the McLaren he now has a car he can really do something with.
Far from feeling the pressure of the extra power, he looks on it as a bonus because it gives him extra scope. He has extended his repertoire this year because he has the right car for the job.
He has the perfect mentality for motor racing, and I have not seen any flaws in his technique. So far we have not seen him on the ragged edge - he is always in control of the car.
Another thing that impresses me is his calm approach to driving. When I was racing I nearly always felt physically sick on the start line - I used to get worried if I wasn't, quite frankly - but directly the race started and I was rushing into the first corner, I always used to think, thank God, now I can relax.
I'm sure Hamilton is affected in the same way. I can't speak for how he feels when he's waiting to go, but when the race starts I'm sure everything falls into place for him and he just reacts automatically.
It will be interesting to see if he can keep up this steamroller period he's got going at the moment, and if so how it affects his team-mate Fernando Alonso. An awful lot of people are saying that Hamilton is already quicker than Alonso; in all fairness, I wouldn't say that at this stage, but I do think that his technique could be more solid than Alonso's at the moment, and there is no doubt that in the first four races of the season he has had the upper hand.
I personally feel that Alonso is a very good driver, and a worthy double World Champion. I have also noticed that he has changed the way he drives now that he has moved from Renault to McLaren. His turn-in technique used to be very jerky, but this season he's not moving the steering wheel as fast as he used to on the way into corners. Whether that's because he realised that this is the way to drive the McLaren, or that the technique didn't work so well in the first place, I'm not sure, but he does seem to be driving better.
However, the present scenario must be a terrible shock for him. When asked on television recently if he thought Hamilton was doing well, his facial expression as he gave a very clipped "yes" in reply spoke volumes - it was as if he had a very sour piece of lemon in his mouth. I also understand, from what is known as a "reliable source", that Alonso can be badly affected when he is beaten by a team-mate.
He is obviously feeling the pressure. His move at the first corner at Catalunya, when he tried to go round the outside of Felipe Massa but went off the road and dropped several places, seemed like desperation.
The way things are going at the moment, I'm sure it can't be very long before Hamilton is unofficially regarded as McLaren's number one driver. Team boss Ron Dennis always says that his drivers have equal status, but it's human nature for one driver to be more highly regarded than the other.
On top of that, as far as the relationship between McLaren and Hamilton is concerned, he is very much their boy. They have been backing him for a long time, since he was racing karts, and for that reason he is in a very good position with the team.
He is a worthy championship leader. His current position is all down to good driving, and in fact I think he was robbed of second place in Melbourne after McLaren made a mistake with the refuelling strategy. If that hadn't happened, he would be further ahead than he is now.
I also think that he is a potential World Champion in his first year. With the approach and mental capacity he has showed so far, I am sure the only thing he can do is become even better.
