If Lewis has a problem what might be behind it?
sammy
20:11 on 13 Apr 2008
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I am trying to point out possible errors that have occurred in human management related to Lewis. For sure he is talented driver but so are many others. I think I won’t mis-shoot too much if I say that Alonso, Kimi, Rosberg, Kovalainen, and many others are at least or very near EQUALLY talented to Lewis. He is a good driver but so are many others.
If Lewis has a problem it may be in the misperception of being better than he really is. In general when you overestimate yourself you might stop learning things that you should learn.
So what happened in 2007 ?
1) Comparisons to greats of F1, like Fangio, and believing it. Way too early for Lewis. This misperception is probably based on a single statistics record — that of the most consecutive podiums for any rookie. It is understandable that it can happen in a top car, for a good driver who can get good car setup from an experienced team mate. Maybe this gave Lewis a false sense of being complete and experienced driver, and consequently didn’t take the chance to learn from Alonso in the first rookie year. New Lewis might be lacking in car development and set up skills which might be why McLaren is not as good as 2007 (Kimi: ‘This year they are not in as strong a position with the car’) and why Lewis is finding it difficult to get the best balance in the car.
2) One simple statistic tells a different story which should be helpful to get the feet back to the ground. Formula 1 greats and Champions have won races from positions in grid other than pole. For example Lewis and Massa have only won from pole. Schumacher, Alonso and Kimi have won races from practically any position in the grid.
3) The biography of Lewis, pretty much premature, makes him a laughing stock. You should expect that from a retiring or retired F1 driver. It will just create the image of Lewis being foolish or greedy. If you really need to write a book about a rookie driver don’t call it a biography but something more humble.
4) One thing makes me wonder quite much. Why is the father of Lewis with him in every race? No other driver does that, and almost no other sportsman in any sports is doing that. I would believe that there is always some tension in the father-son relationship. If not in the surface then under the surface. For example who is calling some shots in some decisions or putting pressure or creating inflated self-image or giving some look or creating some unspoken expectations etc… Even if he was only the manager of Lewis it would be weird. I suspect there might be something unhealthy. Could it be that based on advice by his father, Lewis didn’t yield to Alonso when it would have been healthy because it would have provided him with the possibility to learn? It might be easy to imagine a scenario when the ego of the father says don’t yield to Alonso while an objective manager could have said to listen and learn. Being a good driver and being a good car developer is not a same thing. WDC probably needs to be both and it is possible that Lewis doesn’t have to experience yet to excel in both categories. So there could be some background in the missed opportunity.
Going into 2008
1) Taking the burden of being a lead driver in McLaren for 2008. At least this is what the British media has been touting for months. Why in the earth has Lewis had to do that? It gives him additional mental load for no payoff. Too ambitious? Now he might be struggling to live up to the expectations. Kovalainen is older than Lewis and definitely not an inexperienced driver. For Lewis it would have been wise to just assume the equal status in the team. That would be according to the team’s official policy etc… Why has this happened? Psychologically I think someone would do this (mistake) only if he truly believes that he is a superior driver (which, as has been argued earlier, might be original mistake and premature perception).
2) Lot of commentators seem to be saying that Lewis can only get better this year. I think it is possible that it is going exactly to opposite direction.
Well, all of this is not supposed to be a Lewis bashing. He is young and doesn’t have the life experience of people surrounding him. The real mistake has been done in the human management of Lewis. This points to Ron Dennis and it is possible the father of Lewis is also a factor here. For sure it is difficult to keep the feet on the ground while the media is lifting the guy to the sky. Poor Lewis might have believed the hype around him and forgotten to develop himself when it was most important.
I am choosing one quote here which might be relevant: From the movie Finding Nemo when the two dads talk about when it is the right time to let the children go on their own
‘Marlin: But, but dude how do you know when they’re ready?
Crush: Well you never really know you know, but when they know you’ll know, ya know?’
My 2 pennies,
– Sammy
doctorvee
20:10 on 13 Apr 2008
Comment 1
Thanks for writing this post Sammy! I have a few points I want to mention because I think you’re being a bit unfair in some areas.
My view is that the media ran away with themselves with their premature comparisons to greats like Fangio and Senna. I am not sure if this has been reflected in Hamilton himself as much as some believe. Although there was the time when he said he could surpass Senna (I can’t find the quote right now, although I remember him saying something like that). Certainly, he probably got a bit cocky and began to rest on his laurels, but I’m sure he is aware that he has to keep his feet on the ground.
As for winning on pole, I agree that it will be an important litmus test. But he still has plenty of time to achieve this. Oh, and Massa has now won from a position other than pole — in the most recent race!
As for the biography, that’s just the way business goes. I doubt the biography was Hamilton’s idea. A publisher approached him. And if a publisher approached me offering money for an authorised biography, of course I would accept the offer! There were dozens of unauthorised biographies as well, so a lot of people obviously thought the demand was there.
As for the father attending each race, I’m afraid I have to disagree with you there. For sure, the presence of Anthony Hamilton is rather overbearing. But he is by no means the only criminal. In fact, Times Online has a great article about all of the drivers’ fathers attending grands prix. It’s clear that Hamilton is just one of many. I think the extra profile was really created by the media. And it’s not just confined to F1 either. The father of the Williams sisters in tennis immediately springs to mind.
Craig
20:37 on 13 Apr 2008
Comment 2
WIth regards his father, Jenson Button’s dad has been following him to races for years now - when Jense was ITV’s golden boy, his dad was interviewed quite often but I think he is perhaps a more reluctant “star” than Hamilton Snr.
Apart from those two I can’t remember seeing other F1 fathers at the races - apart from Rosberg who is obviously in that line of work anyway. It may just be that we see these two because ITV had an interest in them at the time - does German TV feature Mr Heidfeld, Australian TV feature Mr Webber etc? I somehow doubt it!
The media certainly have to take a lot of the blame for the Lewis-hype. Not only for making viewers believe it, but perhaps for putting these ideas into the mind of Lewis as well if that really is the case.
doctorvee
21:21 on 13 Apr 2008
Comment 3
Felipe Massa’s father is on the television all the time now. The FOM feed always picks him up, probably even as often as it picks up Anthony Hamilton!
Pink Peril
02:07 on 14 Apr 2008
Comment 4
I can honestly say I have only seen Alan Webber interviewed twice, once at this years Melbourne GP, and once at a round of the V8 Supercars last year (can’t remember which one). In any case, he is certainly not a ‘celebrity’ in Oz like Anthony Hamilton is.
I think part of allure with Anthony Hamilton is that he - like his son - is a genuinely nice person and is always happy to pose for photos or sign autographs for the fans which of course then raises his profile. At least I know they don’t share a hotel room - Lewis told us that at Melbourne
migo33
12:55 on 14 Apr 2008
Comment 5
Sorry to say this “article” is something I would expect at the end of the 2008 season and not after only the third race. Also, I think psychoanalysing the Hamiltons is really off-topic. Fact is, we all make mistakes and it is actually good to see Hamilton forced to go through those troughs including his management - father.
Tiger Woods, Williams, Stefie Graf, Michael Schumacher, Nic Lauda, Mary Pierce the list goes on and on. All great sports people with fathers at or by their sides or in their way.
Schumacher made mistakes when under pressure how often did that guy crash his car doing friday testing. Mika fell asleep at the weel when sixth or eith atleast thrice so does Kimi every once in a while. So Hamilton blunders in his third race 2009 read Niki Lauda, he angrily sais: “Lewis doesn’t impress him” but also - and that is what makes Lauda so great as a commentator - he explains: “Lewis is simply putting too much pressure on himself”. Please pick up on this article of yours at the end of the season. Remember, Nico Rosberg is as much a talent as Lewis but Nico was able to make mistakes in a bad williams 2006 just as Sutil will.