Hamilton possibly out.

[E1pix]

The thing about Senna that, IMO, elevates him above every other driver in his natural ability was his car control. He drove a racecar like the computerized controls that enabled jet fighters to be designed to be unstable so they would maneuver faster than any stable airplane could. He's the only driver I know of that seemed, no matter what the conditions, to be making tiny corrections to stop the instability before any normal human would even feel that they were needed. That, and his utter conviction that he was THE best ever, is what, IMO, set him apart and above as a driver. Watching him drive in the wet was unbelievable.

We attended all nine days in Phoenix, with a couple we adore, their introduction to F1 — and they’ve been to every USGP since.

On Saturday morning in 1991, it rained much of the night on our camp west of town, carrying on into the morning. We ran a hair late and stood in line with umbrellas as cars went out for morning practice.

At first, only one car circled around. Or maybe that’s how I remember it. Immediately up to speed, raging amongst the skyscrapers — one could hear every inch of pedal and the countersteering madness.

We knew, we thought, and arrived at the fence about three laps in.

Senna.

Couldn’t possibly have been anyone else.

[stonebridge20]

We attended all nine days in Phoenix, with a couple we adore, their introduction to F1 — and they’ve been to every USGP since.

On Saturday morning in 1991, it rained much of the night on our camp west of town, carrying on into the morning. We ran a hair late and stood in line with umbrellas as cars went out for morning practice.

At first, only one car circled around. Or maybe that’s how I remember it. Immediately up to speed, raging amongst the skyscrapers — one could hear every inch of pedal and the countersteering madness.

We knew, we thought, and arrived at the fence about three laps in.

Senna.

Couldn’t possibly have been anyone else.

I was there, sitting in the city of Phoenix VIP grandstand with two friends. It was a memorable experience to say the least. Pure magic !

[TimH]

Funny but my memory is different:

Trying to improve interest in the sport, the organizers let us get within about five feet of the track at the slow 90 degree right-hander IIRC (lots of construction changes since then downtown) from 1st Ave. back on to Jefferson St. I watched DeCesaris tiptoe straight off into the outside wall there, they got him cleared, then in the distance we heard a distinctive motor being warmed. Late in the rain session Senna came through for three laps, each time with the engine at full song, each time the car in the EXACT same place a couple of inches off the inside wall in full drift. Three was enough and he quit. Unforgettable. Maybe the quiet you heard was the stoppage for DeCesaris.

[CGOffroad]

Ahhh..... nevermind complaining about drivers !

Let's talk about engines! Get rid of this regenerative electrical stuff and put some real arse back in the cars. V10... that is what proper MEN drove !!

[E1pix]

Funny but my memory is different:

Maybe the quiet you heard was the stoppage for DeCesaris.

Thanks, I’ll bet that’s *exactly* what the “pre-Senna quiet“ was — and why I recall nothing beyond his few laps. I’d thought that was only from the moment’s indelible impact.

Do you believe this, Tim? In two months, that was 30 years ago. Half my life. But I wouldn’t trade any of those days to be 30 again, lemme tell Ya...

I had a photo cred for that race, and the Missus’ only one for F1 ever. I was an occasional contributor to On Track then, and called for creds a few weeks prior. We left it at “We’ll call you when approved.”

But the only call I got was Monday afternoon, asking when they would get my film... one of my few greatest regrets in this life was not pestering them for confirmation, as they’d always done religiously before... creds were never claimed.

[TimH]

Ahhh..... nevermind complaining about drivers !
Let's talk about engines! Get rid of this regenerative electrical stuff and put some real arse back in the cars. V10... that is what proper MEN drove !!

The Lamborghini V12 had more bellow and less shriek. I have a brief video clip of the acceleration off a slow corner that reminds me how wonderful it was to be able to recognize the cars by their different voices.

[DaveW]

...Then in Montreal, Jarier utterly ***blew away*** Andretti — and everyone else — opening up at least 40 seconds in 40 Laps, and at least a second-and-a-half a lap clear of Mario, “One of the greatest-ever.” It was absolutely stunning, and by miles the best drive I’ve ever witnessed trackside. Only an oil leak determined history, and gifted my Hero Villeneuve his first win. Touching as that was, Jarier was the Hero until an oil leak changed it.

Was Jarier better than Mario? Or just hungrier?...

Or did he have a car with the magic setup for that track, that day, that every serious driver longs for? There have been days when, at least compared to the competition, I had that. Other times, someone else had it. Even in NASCAR, where everything is regulated within a hair's width, it exists.

[E1pix]

Certainly possible, if not likely, Dave!

And as with most racing dominance, the Lotus 79 was so very, very far beyond its competitors. An opportunity for Jarier was wide open and he knew it. And full in, he went.

One thing I noticed about him every time I saw him... That guy changed gears noticeably quicker than anyone else I’ve seen. Mostly just a rev change, gapless in time taken, up or down. Same with his Can-Am dalliances in the Ferrari 712 in ‘72, and the Shadow in ’78.

[J Leonard]

Pheonix

[Jerry Kehoe]

I raced in the Phoenix race in FA and it was hot out. About 105 degrees and the FA guys were in the nice AC d convention hall and the F1 guys were stuck in the garages on the track which faced the sun all day. Only time we went outside was to get to the grid. Track was wide and had mostly 90 degree turns. Fun to be part of the whole deal!

[E1pix]

1989, Jerry?

[BeerBudgetRacing]

After spending my entire lifetime (except the first 35 months) around this passion, I for the life of me don’t know when a successful driver isn’t “one of my people.”

I don’t care if he dresses like me, looks like me, or even is like me.

I think you miss understood what I meant by us not being his people. Correct, not the way he looks or dresses, but we are his audience. Race fans are quickly becoming is second audience. He's more interested in Hollywood. That's why I said we're not his people anymore.

[Daryl DeArman]

The fact that he's a World Champion means he isn't one of my people. None of my people have won a World Championship. My people barely eek out local class championships, a pole position and a win here or there.

[Jerry Kehoe]

E1,It was the first one they had whenever that was.

[E1pix]

Thanks Jerry, it was blazing hot!

(then moved to March)

[DaveW]

...And as with most racing dominance, the Lotus 79 was so very, very far beyond its competitors. An opportunity for Jarier was wide open and he knew it. And full in, he went...

Often a car setup/character meshes perfectly with one driver's style while not fitting very well with another's. It's likely that was at least partly the case here.

[chrisw52]

in a vane attempt to get this back on topic, looks like Hammilton's desires have hit a snag...

https://www.planetf1.com/news/merced...n-real-chance/

“George Russell then literally and figuratively shattered Hamilton’s plan,” he told De Telegraaf before questioning how Hamilton could be asking for a raise given the current financial climate.

“What is the last 10 million for him?” he said. “The world is on fire and you have to take into account that his own business model no longer works.

[Gary_T]

https://racer.com/2021/02/08/hamilto...mercedes-deal/

[lowside67]

The actual deal was signed today... no need for speculation

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/20...es-motor-sport

-Mark

[E1pix]

Winningest driver ever rules his own negotiations.

Call me unsurprised. He deserves it.

[lowside67]

I think he got his wishes on most of the soft points, but the big glaring fact is that it's only a 1 year deal. I am pretty confident this is Hamilton's last year and the cost cap era of 2022+ is going to see a new pilot.

-Mark

[Jnovak]

I think he got his wishes on most of the soft points, but the big glaring fact is that it's only a 1 year deal. I am pretty confident this is Hamilton's last year and the cost cap era of 2022+ is going to see a new pilot.

-Mark

I am a real Hamilton fan but his time is running out it is all about the money first, middle and last! When the money is gone so is Hamilton!

[TimH]

One of my favorite Lauda interviews came when he was offered a chance at an announcing job. His salary demand? "One dollar more than Hunt gets."

Maybe it's all about the money for these guys but they don't think of money the same way we do - to them it's just another score system.

[E1pix]

I think he got his wishes on most of the soft points, but the big glaring fact is that it's only a 1 year deal. I am pretty confident this is Hamilton's last year and the cost cap era of 2022+ is going to see a new pilot.

-Mark

I get a sense he only wants #8 — and is otherwise ready to go.

Even when money gets tighter, there’s always some more for a guy like him.

[Offcamber1]

I was hoping they'd give Russell a shot. Maybe next year?

[mmi16]

I get a sense he only wants #8 — and is otherwise ready to go.

Even when money gets tighter, there’s always some more for a guy like him.

I have been led to believe that driver salaries don't go under the cost cap.

[Steve Bamford]

I have been led to believe that driver salaries don't go under the cost cap.

Perhaps not under the cost cap for total team spend but there is support for a salary cap for drivers imposed on the teams. The discussion was that there would be a cap on salaries but would have to honor existing contracts & this was for I believe the 2023 season.

Franz Tost has been quoted saying “The drivers anyway earn too much money, they should get much less,”

I believe teams agreed to 30 million total for drivers salaries per team, that's still a lot of coin to go around.

[billtebbutt]

$30mm. Only if its $US, not $CDn. Then maaaaaaaaaaaybe.................

("I only eat January snowflakes......"). Lucy Van Pelt


bt

[t walgamuth]

It'll be interesting how things pan out with smaller salaries. The comment by Lauda that he wanted $1 more than Hunt may be applicable here. As long as he is the highest paid that may be all that matters. After all how do you spend $30m in a year? ...or in a lifetime.

[Peter Olivola]

It'll be interesting how things pan out with smaller salaries. The comment by Lauda that he wanted $1 more than Hunt may be applicable here. As long as he is the highest paid that may be all that matters. After all how do you spend $30m in a year? ...or in a lifetime.

Hold my beer.

[Kazis31]

I hope Max
Charles
Alonso
and Ricardo team up and make sure he never wins another championship.

Sorry Hamilton Fans ,.
Guy is extremely lucky and very good business man.
That does not make him the greatest driver.
I hope that Renault flies .....
I hope Ferrari gets their car right....
I hope Mclaren get more power from engine....
I hope Red Bull give Max all they can....

[E1pix]

Vettel
Alonso
Schumacher
Hakkinen
Senna
Prost
Mansell
Lauda
Hunt
Stewart
Clark
Hill
Fangio
...........

I don’t recall any of them ever being called “lucky.”

What I do recall is their being called “Heroes.”

[Jim Nash]

I hope Max
Charles
Alonso
and Ricardo team up and make sure he never wins another championship.

Sorry Hamilton Fans ,.
Guy is extremely lucky and very good business man.
That does not make him the greatest driver.
I hope that Renault flies .....
I hope Ferrari gets their car right....
I hope Mclaren get more power from engine....
I hope Red Bull give Max all they can....

A lucky businessman with 7 World Driving Championships. Hope all you want. It might be the best strategy.

[B Farnham]

Vettel
Alonso
Schumacher
Hakkinen
Senna
Prost
Mansell
Lauda
Hunt
Stewart
Clark
Hill
Fangio
...........

I don’t recall any of them ever being called “lucky.”

What I do recall is their being called “Heroes.”

Hamilton started out in a top team and has never had a poor car his whole career.

He's also enjoyed the longest run of dominance from any team (thanks to rules stability). He's a very good driver but there was a lot of luck to it (who could have predicted that Mercedes would go on such a dominant run?)

Hes also in a period where there are virtually no failures unlike most of the names above.

I can name 6-8 other drivers on the grid that could win a world championship if they were in the Mercedes against Bottas.

He really only had to beat his teammate each year which has made F1 boring, especially since Rosberg retired.

Brian

[E1pix]

There’s always some luck in racing, but certainly not six or eight on the grid that could do what he’s done.

Naming them doesn’t make it real. Hamilton’s successes are.

I agree F1 has gotten boring as dirt... just like it was in every single previous era of dominance.

[Kazis31]

Anything to take mind off bull **** going on out in the world....

i think this season has turbulent potential.

Charles and Sainz in one team....
Max and Perez in other.
lets not forget Shumi JR at Haas.


fingers crossed.

[Kazis31]

Only time Hamilton was under pressure and had real competition
was at Mclaren with Alonso.
We all know how that ended.

Of course and Nico.'
who retired after ,from stress i assume.

[Kazis31]

Simple numbers gents
from 2007 to 2013
only one season Hamilton has scored more points than Alonso.
one....
then came Mercedes years .

Numbers don't lie.

[Kazis31]

Please fact check before Facebook does....lol

[E1pix]

I agree numbers don’t lie — like numbers of wins.

There’s no point defending success.