[Driver] Hamilton: Disappoints

[F1Pete]

Well, I read this morning about how apologetic LH is about lying to the stewards. I must say I am very disappointed. I guess he had no regard for Trulli. Yes, he says his manager told him to do it, but that is not good enough for me. He lied. This reminds me of Michael Schumacher and his string of cheating antics over his career. Why do great drivers need to do this if they already are so good. Don't they believe in their "honest" selves?

[bravo]

Trulli has no regard for the marshalls then.. speeding enough to drop it deep into the grass.

The team pay his wages, and Ryan is new to the role isn't he? Most drivers want to get the most out of the rules, and will try to bend them whenever possible.

[ChrisPage]

It's that dark part of the human soul where you get a whiff of thinking you'll get away with it!

Look at how cautious the team were behind the safety car - just for the team manager to throw that goodwill away.

Hamilton the same - after the race though when he spoke to the BBC he looked a bit agitated. I suspect he was cross, and allowed that red mist in part to cloud his judgement - especially when maybe he thought 'hang on, I think they are just gonna take my word for it'.

[Peter Mallett]

I've edited the thread title because it was somewhat emotive. However I do agree, he's apparently contrite but this is not good. Forgive me but I do believe he's a product of the MS generation and as such thinks "getting away with things" is normal business.

We see examples in all forms of racing where younger drivers take on attitudes from their heroes. Club saloon racers tend to imitate BTCC driving styles to costly effect.

[Super Hans]

Maybe he's a flawed genius like Senna and Schumacher. Maybe being obsessed with winning can occasionally disrupt one's moral compass. Or maybe they're just human beings, and therefore they lie and cheat just as many of us do.

[ensign14]

If he thought he was "getting away with it", why give a totally different story gratuitously to the world's media straight away? There's something that does not sit right at all with the whole story.

[p261brm]

Just logged on after the customary working week away 'from my desk'. I've not heard all the 'sorries' whys, wherefores etc, still trying to get my head round how the hell we are going to run a 'Race' at Donington on Sunday with half of the circuit under yellow flags, still first time for everything. If Lewis was as reported economic with the truth, he should be *~?',.> ashamed of himself, he has gone down in my estimation and not a little support when being blasted by some. His manager told him too, Rubbish, if he did and Lewis agreed to, he wants the grand order of The DCM, don't come Monday

[Peter Mallett]

@ensign. I'm thinking of the aftermath, not the issue itself.

Like we did with MS and Senna before him, we do need to be unblinded so we can appreciate his talent, and criticise when it is deserved, like now.

[Kirk]

At least there is some good news in all of this. McLaren are not persisting, although I think that they think that they have grounds to do so. They are at face value acting like a good team should by simply moving on as a team. Lessons learned I hope and lets move on.

On another note: I think it is high time that Lewis starts to think for himself and if given questionable advice, he needs to question it, not obey blindly.. This applies on the track as well as off. All part of the learning curve I suppose.

[MGDavid]

Originally Posted by Kirk

.......On another note: I think it is high time that Lewis starts to think for himself and if given questionable advice, he needs to question it,(my italics) not obey blindly.. ....

He did; have you not listened to the recording of the car-pit radio, or read the transcript? The links are in the other thread.

[paddy]

It's a real shame, but let's hope he learns. Whoever you are life has a way of biting you and it's how you react after that matters. I wouldn't compare him to MS yet as he was a serial culprit, but he's damaged by this. He has made a big thing of family values and his religious beliefs so to some extent this looks worse. Definitely gone down in my estimation. Could be a long year for him on and off the track.

[Glen]

McLaren disappoints - Hamilton does what he's told.

The team don't have a culture where it is possible for any individual to be true to himself - corporate control underpins every detail. Which is also why it is absurd to suspend one individual - no way was Dave Ryan acting alone.

[Glen]

Hamilton could take a step back here and think about his contract and obligations to the team - no employer can ask you to break rules in pursuit of your work, and hopefully he'll now have the confidence to assert himself if any similar situation occurs in future.

[Knowlesy]

I wonder if this, and the reduced influence of Ron Dennis, will make him have a think about his future career options a bit more...

[Dutton]

Originally Posted by Kirk

At least there is some good news in all of this. McLaren are not persisting, although I think that they think that they have grounds to do so. They are at face value acting like a good team should by simply moving on as a team. Lessons learned I hope and lets move on.

On another note: I think it is high time that Lewis starts to think for himself and if given questionable advice, he needs to question it, not obey blindly.. This applies on the track as well as off. All part of the learning curve I suppose.

What grounds are those? That they didn't lie, but rather suffered from Temporary False Memory Syndrome? Lessons learned? I am sure they will incorporate the lessons learned to ensure they are more competent at attempted deceit next time, certainly.

Acting like the "good team" that attempts to lie their way to gains at the expense of a rival? Don't misunderstand me, I don't think Mclaren are any different to the rest of the teams: I just find it silly when people start using terms like "good". All the teams and drivers are going to scheme at times: "good" or "moral" or "just", or whatever, just don't come into it for me. There is telling the truth and there is lying: there is getting away with it, and there is getting caught at it.

Lews to think for himself? I think it has been shown he thinks for himself. He made his decision to do what he did. Perhaps he'll have a bit more sense next time, though.

[Pro Racer]

one thing i hate is liars in general. 2nd thing it's sportsmanship to be honnest if you **** up or whatever and then go and bull**** about it is just wrong. whether or not Lewis just BSed or the team told him too dosn't matter, Lewis would gain respect 10 fold for just telling the truth and moving on. if it gives the team the ****s stuff'em you know at the end of the day you walk away with your dignaty intact, probably gain more fans.

[ralf fan]

I still don't understand how they expected to get away with it. The radio conversations are all recorded by the FIA. He even said after the race he let Trulli through. The upper management at Mclaren and Lewis had a serious brain fade and Dave Ryan has taken the fall. But it surely can't just be him.

[ensign14]

This is why I don't think we've had the full story from the stewards. I am guessing they asked the wrong question. Like "did you let Trulli past after McLaren told you to do so?" or something like that. So, to cover up the incompetence, the FIA launches itself onto McLaren and threatens them with multiple bans if they try to protest.

[Dutton]

Hamilton seems pretty clear that he intentionally withheld information, having been told to do so by the team (that is, Ryan).

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2009/4/9126.html

Originally Posted by Lewis Hamilton (according to formula1.com)

In Melbourne, I had a great race. As soon as I got out of the car I had the television interviews at the back of the garage, and straight away I gave them a good account of what happened during the race. Straight after that we were requested by the stewards, and while waiting I was instructed and misled by my team manager to withhold information, and that is what I did.

I sincerely apologise to the stewards for wasting their time.

Or is this part of covering up reality so that Mclaren can keep Ryan as the fall guy, which Mclaren have done so as to keep a lid on the FIA's cover-up (because they think they think they will be excluded from the championship if they don't)?

It is possible that Lewis and the team lied, got caught, then got punished for lying. It is possible that the situation is actually that simple.

[Red]

Originally Posted by Kirk

They are at face value acting like a good team should by simply moving on as a team.

That is the last thing they did actually. If their intention was to act as a team and move on as a team they wouldn't single out a veteran employee and charge him with all the guilt.

[Born Racer]

wonder if this, and the reduced influence of Ron Dennis, will make him have a think about his future career options a bit more...

But it isn't any more McLaren's fault than it is his own. He didn't have to obey such a stupid request of his team.

I'm disappointed in him.

[Kirk]

Originally Posted by Red

That is the last thing they did actually. If their intention was to act as a team and move on as a team they wouldn't single out a veteran employee and charge him with all the guilt.

Yes, I get your point and perhaps this is Mac doing damage control in an effort to evade further penalty to their driver.

[Knowlesy]

Red: you spend a year away from the forum and you come back for this?

[Red]

Tehee

Only 1 year it was? I thought it was more.

[bdwoody]

Originally Posted by Born Racer

But it isn't any more McLaren's fault than it is his own. He didn't have to obey such a stupid request of his team.

I'm disappointed in him.

have a word with ya self born, a team that has bank rolled lewis all his career and got him to the top of the tree in the so called "pinicle of motor sport" and your expecting him to say ,"errrrr now way i'm saying that dave i'll do what i want to do !" i dont think so ...
dont get me wrong i think he has done the wrong thing here but i wouldn't call it a clever ploy to cheat , more like a lapse in judgement at an early point in his F1 career.some would call it loyalty others stupidity ,we all have our own views .....