Hamilton. Unsportsmanlike ?

[LHD_Kid]

He was doing the only 2 things he knows: racing and trying to win. No point in winning the race by a mile and thinking what if...

He's someone who is becoming more divisive as his exploites outside the track grow and his sound bites become more awkward. Whatever, he's a cracking driver and fireworks are never far away.

Rosberg... meh... Consistent, rarely exciting and many times clumsy when it comes to the high pressure situations. Seems like a nice guy when he relaxes but Ricciardo and Verstappen are far more talented. Next year may be very different if the domination of the last 3 years shifts to another team or things even out.

Looking forward to next year - I really hope there isn't one manufacturer with a massive advantage....

[Ian_C]

So for those into F1 what did you make of it ? Interested in opinions ...

Not in the slightest. Hilarious comments before the race suggesting Rosberg would 'take Hamilton out'. That isn't Rosbergs style. I didn't want a repeat of Barcelona, and thankfully it was a clean race, the Mercedes didn't even come close to touching

We only have to look back to Suzuka 1989 and 1990 to see how the title decider *can* end up. Prost turning into Senna in 1989. Senna smashing into Prost a year later to make amends after pole was put onto the dirty side of the grid. And Sch Hill @ Adelaide 94, and Sch Villeneuve @ Jerez 97 etc etc

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

Bring back noisy power units, do away with stupid fuel consumption measurements and create tyres that allow drivers to reach the limits of the cars. Lets see these guys sweat it out for their millions rather than argue about a guy backing up another guy (which rightly or wrongly was annoyingly one of the more exciting parts of the season)

Here here!

[Sonic]

Lewis is a selfish, spoilt brat who drinks in his own hype. No-one wants to be team mates with him.

Verstappen was the driver of the season for me.

Jenson was hilarious on the BBC coverage. Clearly had a few after his early finish
He is my favorite character, a shame he is retiring but I hope he ends up doing commentary in the future

Not sure which coverage you were watching mate

Hamilton was fighting for a championship not just a race win, and there was literally nothing else he could do besides what he did to try and win. Mercedes had already won the constructors and it was guaranteed a Mercedes driver, himself or Nico, would him the drivers championship... so it's nonsensical to suggest he'd do anything other than do anything he could to try and win.

Nico is an absolutely perfect #2 driver... his consistency is relentlessness at it is impressive in its own right, and he did everything he could and should have to win his championship, but it's also true that Hamilton is the faster driver and would have won the championship probably again in Texas if he hadn't had so many mechanical issues this year.

However 2016 was a 21-race season, not a 22-race reason, so Rosberg undoubtably deserves his championship win this year. If Le Mans was a 23hr 57 minute race not a 24hr race then Toyota would have won.

I considered Hamilton to be far more magnanimous in his defeat than Rosberg was in his last year, despite some pretty stupid comments said to Lee in the pen whilst in the hight of his emotions at the end of the race having just lost the championship he's been fighting tooth-and-nail for all year.

[curlylee]

Sorry but f1 is boring there just like footballers overpaid bell ends .moto gp ,bsb and world superbikes for me

[UrS4boy]

One simple question If Hamilton was driving soooooo slowly, why didn't Rosberg overtake? .

Exactly. The answer is: Because Nico couldn't beat Lewis in an actual side-by-side duelling Merc's race. Nico was afraid to take Lewis on because he knew that he (Nico) would make a mistake and crash out. So *HE* played it safe, staying in 2nd. I can't remember the race but I remember Toto telling Lewis to let Nico by. Lewis responded with something like, "If Nico's so fast, then why isn't he passing me?"

Hamilton is a tool but there is also no point racing properly as he would just win at a canter. His tactics were fine in my book and made it far more interesting than him disappearing off into the distance which would just have resulted in yet another boring race.

I guess there is more to a successful racing driver than just his ability to get the car round the track but with all things being equal, Hamilton is on another planet ability wise relative to Rosberg. Reverse the situation and Hamilton would be up Rosbergs **** and overtaking him.)

Disagree with Lewis being a tool. Agree with everything else. If Hamilton's car hadn't broken those 2 or 3 times (through no fault of his), *HE* would have been the champion well before the final race.

When Lewis was forced to start or race from the back he typically made it to the podium in 2nd or 3rd. If Nico had to do that in a race, he would have maybe finished 5th or 6th. Lewis *IS* the better driver of the two. Nico can't handle pressure. He lucked out this season due to Lewis's bad luck.

In me humble opinion.

[sidrick]

F1 is a sport that relies on a huge slice of luck in plenty of seasons. The best driver doesn't always win. I'm not really buying into the tears that this season is much worse than many others.

I think Hamilton is the best driver at the moment, but he does himself no favours. Always seems to be fighting with team mates or the team itself.

I don't begrudge him trying some games, but by the time Tito was telling him to behave, it was all over and he should have just done what was best for him and the team. Can you even imagine what the team would think if he backed Nico up into an accident (which, let's be honest, was his aim) and he went on to win the race and title?? It was a ***** trick which was all well and good early doors, but there's a line.

[SteveH]

Look at the history of F1 and the tactics used to beat team mates and rivals to win the championships. Schumacher and Senna to name a few. Without someone to mix things up, it would be very boring indeed; especially in its current format. Hamilton is certainly one of the best drivers, but his personality isn't for some. With all the young drivers coming into the sport like Verstappen, it should be on the up. Still no match for excitement like MotoGP unfortunately.

[Colesy]

Not in the slightest. Hilarious comments before the race suggesting Rosberg would 'take Hamilton out'. That isn't Rosbergs style.

You didn't see this then!



Or this:



Hamilton has changed over the years but that's what comes with fame and fortune I suppose. The reason he always upsets his teammates is because he outclasses them. Considering how blatantly Rosberg has been crashed into Hamilton this season I don't think Hamilton's "actions" in Abu Dhabi really warranted any criticism at all, all he did was slow up a bit which actually came to nothing. A great season to watch I thought a shame Hamilton couldn't have won.

[Sonic]

And both are capable of 'dirty tricks' by slowing the other without crashing

[Vorsprung durch Technik]

Hamilton has changed over the years but that's what comes with fame and fortune I suppose. The reason he always upsets his teammates is because he outclasses them.

Exactly,same thing goes for everyday work situations when fellow workers/commentators who are less capable,just have to throw out their dummies,in an attempt to drag down the more capable man. Been going on since time began and as long as morons exist it will continue!

In mine and most rational peoples opinion!

[geryS2]

for my part, i never liked Hamilton personality and this last event just proves one thing : he will never be part of great champions, he s got no charisma. point.

And anyway, i don t look at F1 races anymore, it has become soporific ..

Hopefully, next Paris-Dakar is just a few weeks from start

[LHD_Kid]

Can you even imagine what the team would think if he backed Nico up into an accident (which, let's be honest, was his aim) and he went on to win the race and title?? It was a ***** trick which was all well and good early doors, but there's a line.

I'm not sure the team should really think anything if he'd been backed up into an accident...

Mercedes had the constructors championship whatever happened
Nico was second at worst even if there was an accident (and winning if the accident took out Hamilton too
The other Mercedes won if there was an accident...

Mercedes were really bitching about nothing...

If he'd been backed up that bad, surely he'd have the talent and nouse to try and overtake??

Anyway, hope for a close competitive season next year...

[HPsauce]

Mercedes would of course be very happy; it kept the cameras on them when normally they "run and hide" so the TV audience is focussed elsewhere.

It was all expected, can't see what there is to complain about. Even afterwards Nico sort of half-heartedly congratulated Lewis (and he did call him that) on his skill in holding him back while not allowing any overtaking opportunity.
He would have tried to do the same.

PS I love the quote about Le Mans being 24 hours not 23 and a bit.

[mackenzie50]

I enjoyed the discussion so far- lots of astute points of view as well as the purely personal
The way I look at it - if I'd had that awesome talent and fabulous rewards I'dve been 10x the a-r-s-e Lewis can be.
And if I'd been a rock star at an earlier age (ok I'm still not one now&#128518.....I'd be dead.
Being an old guy I can understand younger ' bad' behaviour a lot more easily!