It seems that a lot of people don’t like Hamilton, and he isn’t a particularly likeable bloke, but I think giant egos go with F1 and he is a brilliant driver. This season was far from a procession, he was well behind Vettel coming up to halfway, but his driving and Ferrari’s unreliability since then gave him the title. I wouldn’t bet against him next season.
Another win for Verstappen, totally fearless, if he gets the right car he'll dominate the next decade...
I don't like Hamilton, but then most F1 drivers are pretty unappealing if you ask me. I heard Nigel Mansell on the wireless today - surely the most vain and least likeable of any F1 champion - and, true to type, amongst his platitudes about Hamilton and F1 in general, he managed to crowbar in the fact that the final corner at the Mexico City track has been named after him. Jenson Button seems like a nice chap.
As I said I think it goes with the job, you have to have a monstrous ego, a monomaniac dedication and 100% self belief to get in the car and drive that fast, especially if you think you have a chance of winning. Just getting fit enough to drive one for 50 plus laps often in 35 degree heat is nuts enough, never mind concentrating totally all the way through it. Your are also relying on the judgement, skill and sense of others to avoid killing you. I can’t think of a single one I liked as anything beyond drivers, although James Hunt was a genuine character. They seem to normalise (just like footballers suddenly learn how to speak) once retired, though Jackie Stewart has never even managed that. Marc Weber seems ok now.
At such a young age I really appreciate Max's maturity and fantastic driving skills and wish him more race wins and future world championships. He was hard done by last week, but came through shining today, dispatching Vettel & Hamilton at the race start. In recent years, despite possessing similar skills, but fortunate enough to be in the right cars, Vettel & Hamilton have become a pair of whiners.
