I write this article having seemed to have softened in my opinion of a certain Damon Hill! Being a huge Michael Schumacher fan I really did find myself disliking Damon very much during his Williams years, but having watched him on the F1 forum after the British GP, I found from somewhere now a massive respect for him which I never had before, and I even find myself actually quite liking the guy, particulary for all his efforts in keeping the British GP alive and kicking at a greatly improved Silverstone! I was watching a few dvds of the 94 and 95 seasons and saw things perhaps from a different prospective. After the death of Senna i think Hill did brilliantly well in a time which must have been very difficult for both him and the team as a whole, and whilst Damon will never be regarded as a truely great driver, his performances on track in hind sight for me were pretty impressive! I wondered if anyone else out there has ever had a change of heart about a driver, and what were the reasons you had which made you change your mind?
It's always worth watching interviews with drivers away from the usual F1 circus, they come across a lot differently. Even better get along to somewhere like Silverstone where they grab a handful and get a very un-PC Tony Jardine to interview them at the post race party. Also if you're ever lucky enough to get invited to an event where you can meet them one on one and just talk you'll find most are very open and likable guys.
Excellent idea for a thread! I have found myself having more respect for Vettel this year. I wasn't a big fan of his when, after the Brazilian GP of 2009 where Button won his title, he seemed really moody after the race. When he was being interviewed, he mumbled a 'congratulations to Jenson' through gritted teeth to the interviewer (think it was Lee Mckenzie) which has since has given me the impression that he's a bit of a sore loser. The crashes last year into Webber in Turkey and Jenson in Belgium didn't help raise his stock with me either! However, this year I think is evidence that he has grown up. Perhaps that is due to the dominance of him and the car, perhaps not. I look forward to a more closely fought season to see if, when things don't go his way, he will maintain this maturity.
Actually after Schumacher retired in 2006 and as a long time Damon Hill fan I couldnt deny he was one of the best of all time after hating his guts during his time at Benetton and Ferrari. But then he had to come back and my opinion dropped a bit lol
I was a massive Damon fan and hated Schuey with a passion, but I have to say, I have quite taken with Schuey this term even though I think he should never have come back! I found myself routing for a podium finish at the Candian GP and thought he put a stellar performance in that weekend! I have always liked Webber and not been much for Vettle but this term I have found that my liking for both has diminished equally! My suprise U turn is Hamilton. As a big Button fan I have always found myself routing for Jenson over Lewis and whilst I think JB is doing a very good job in the 3rd fastest car against potentially the outright fastest driver, I have warmed to Lewis more during this difficult period! I still hold my views that his entry into F1 was accelerated unfairly and he has been flattered by having a very fast car in 2007 and 2008 and a support driver in 2008, but I think in times of press humiliation (some deserved, some not) I think we have seen a more human side to him. His passion has never been in question, but his demeanour has (by some fans), but I feel having JB as a team mate (not that I think Lewis fears anyone) and not a defacto No 2, some poor results (team and driver related) as well as some excellent performances from both Mclaren drivers, has made him a more likeable charachter! Character is the word I use, becasue in some of his outbursts and the off track documentaries with JB etc show his charachter and not the self groomed model employee I think some older F1 fans struggled to relate to! I still hope JB is the next british WDC, but I fear it is more likely to be Lewis and when he does it, I think I will afford myself a wry smile and be able to accept it as well deserved, something I never thought I would have found myself saying back in 2007, 2008 0r 2009!
Webber didn't do much for me, but in the last couple of years I got to respect him and the disadvantage he is under.
What a great thread STG! And that's a big admission you've made about Damon Hill, who came into the sport at a very very 'late' age, but battled on in the face of all manner of adversity to come out victorious. - A very courageous and completely decent bloke who I've had the privilege to meet on many occasions. As a human being he sets a fine example to everyone. All the time! - He's the sort of guy who simply will not let you down. It's just not in his bones…
I used to despise Schumacher for his on track behaviour, but began to warm to him when he had to fight Hakkinen and Alonso. His final race for Ferrari at Interlagos was epic. I used to like Hamilton because he was a rookie and took it to Alonso, but now I can't stand him. Even when he is interviewed away from the track he comes across as conceited and fake. I used to dislike Hakkinen because of his voice, but looking back there is a bone dry humour that I really appreciate now, and what a driver.
lol I wasnt fond of Hakkinan either but after I heard about the sexy romp he had with 2 women that burnt down his trophy case, He has scored from me!
Cosicave - Damon Hill's nature and integrity has always seemed to me to be a direct result of his most excellent parents. Genes normally have something to do with it.
Agreed Bergy. P.S. Not sure if you saw my message about Goodwood, which it seems I addressed to the wrong person - thinking you'd made a subtle name change. Anyway, did you have a good time? Damon was there too.
I used to like Hamilton but in recent years I have gone off him for several reasons. I really did not like Vettel last year and Abu Dhabi was one of the worst races ever, but this year he has matured and I am warming to him.
I have, I loved watching Hamilton in GP2 and the first year at Mclaren, now I'm not a fan at all of his driving style or personality, and recent comments and actions on the track have added to this.
"I still hold my views that his entry into F1 was accelerated unfairly" Nothing annoys me more than people saying this about Hamilton! Its completly unfair and untrue!! The only reason he had backing from Mclaren from such an early age is because he had the balls as 10 year boy to stroll up to Ron Dennis and say im going to drive for you! Even then it was on the condition he finished his schooling and got certain marks! and EVEN then he had to win every lower formula which he did with some dominance!! THAT is why he is in formula 1 not because he was simply handed the seat at mclaren as alot of people think and imply! His dad was working 3 jobs to help fund him. People really should read into facts before making judgements and giving false opinions they have no clue about! Do you actually think he would still be at mclaren if he hadnt been so dominant in the lower formula. The 2007 mclaren was hardly far superior! He still had to beat ALonso which he did at the very least! Lewis Hamilton is in Formula 1 because he is the best driver we have seen for a long long time, NOT because he is black, because he skipped ahead of others etc etc etc!!! If we lost Lewis Hamilton from F1 it would be a much poorer place! It saddens me to hear people unfairly criticise him. He is doing what we want to see more of daring over taking manouvers. Sometimes they come off sometimes it doesnt thats the way it goes. Perhaps we'll say no overtaking into corners. That will keep the morons who criticise him quiet!!!! How good and exciting would F1 be if we had 24 Hamiltons! There rant over! : )
well hamilton could of come in earlier to replace pablo in 2006 but they chose not to in the end so in that sence they held him back
yes, twice. My first real F1 'hero' was Alain Prost, but that went out of the window on lap 46 of the 1989 Suzuka GP, total hypocrit, and Webber who I used to quite like until he proved what a 2 faced backstabbing whiney hypocrit he was.
I used to like Vettel in his Torro Rosso days and early 2009 - I liked his driving and personality . He was my favourite driver at one point, towards the end of the 2008 Brazillian Grand Prix During 2009 he started to come across as arrogant, and I still get that feeling today. That finger celebration is really frustrating, especially after qualifying - where I feel there's no need for it. When he started to get blatantly favoured by Red Bull, I sympathized with Webber and lost of a lot of respect for Vettel, even though Horner and Marko were the perpetrators in this case. His silly errors and crashes in 2009 and 2010 made me believe he needs more experience before receiving such a fast car. Since late 2010 he improved significantly in terms of consistency but his arrogance still comes across. I used to like Ralf Schumacher, simply because his brother was dominating at the time. I didn't like Yuji Ide when he was driving but now I find him and his lack of an FIA superlicense very amusing.
Benny: That's the first comment of yours which I've seen; passionate and very well said in my opinion. As to the responses that follow, referring to being "held back"; doesn't that show some responsibility on McLaren's part? - and in particular - Ron Dennis?
