Hamilton-I could handle being #2'd by Alonso or Vettel

[FA fan]

Tuesday 7 May at 07:35 : May 7 (GMM) Seven years into his F1 career, Lewis Hamilton thinks he is now mature enough to handle any teammate.

Before switching to Mercedes for 2013, the long-time former McLaren driver expressed interest in joining Red Bull, whose Sebastian Vettel has won the world championship three times on the trot.

But back in 2007, Briton Hamilton fell out spectacularly with his then teammate Fernando Alonso.

Dr Helmut Marko, now grappling with the disintegrating relationship between Vettel and Mark Webber, said it's simply a problem when two "alpha dogs" clash.

But Hamilton told the Daily Mail: "Now I'm older, I'm sure we would have a different relationship."

Referring to himself and Spaniard Alonso, he added: "There would still be intense moments because we are both quick, so we would be very close to each other, but we've both matured a lot.

"I think I'm much better at nurturing relationships between teammates now. It depends on the drivers.

"Put Sebastian with Fernando Alonso and the team would be in trouble straight away, the chemistry would just ... (Hamilton whistles).

"You know, I even think I could drive with Sebastian," Hamilton mused. "I just wouldn't turn the engine down."

No longer under the control of McLaren supremo Ron Dennis or his father Anthony, Hamilton also says he has learned to cope with criticism.

A good example is the last few months, when Sir Jackie Stewart initially slammed Hamilton's move to Mercedes, and then tipped the 28-year-old as a title favourite for 2013.

"I think I've definitely developed a thicker skin," said Hamilton.

"At the start, it's easier to get stung. I'm more consistent now because my mental strength has improved. So when Jackie Stewart talks about me, I just laugh it off.

"Some people are nosey, or they've nothing better to do. They're entitled to their opinions, but Jackie talks a lot."

[OSS EL BOSS]

"You know, I even think I could drive with Sebastian," Hamilton mused. "I just wouldn't turn the engine down."
Good one Lewis
Red Bull surely dont want a driver like Hamilton beside Vettel they want someone who can "manage the gap" and do the multi12 order, otherwise Vettel would cry in the team radio and tell them to do something like "getting him out of the way".

[REDARMYSOJA]

Sounds like a cry for help, "Get me out of this Mercedes and into a Ferrari or Red Bull!"

[mirafiori]

Sounds like a cry for help, "Get me out of this Mercedes and into a Ferrari or Red Bull!"

I Agree with you, but maybe he wants more, and is probably looking forward to when his three year contract runs out with Mercedes. And would like to join the greatest F1 team on the planet.

[NickEice]

Hamilton and Hulkenberg or Hamilton and Bianchi

That's our driver lineup after Alonso retires.

[wisepie]

I don't think for a minute that Lewis would want out of Mercedes , he's doing well enough and who knows how the season will develop. Likewise there's no guarantee that Red Bull or indeed any other team will dominate the rest of the season, our only concern is that it's our team which turns up the heat and shows what we can do. We're surely due a change of fortune.

[Tifoso]

PLEASE DO NOT USE ALL CAPS TITLES--TSN Mod

[stefa]

I Agree with you, but maybe he wants more, and is probably looking forward to when his three year contract runs out with Mercedes. And would like to join the greatest F1 team on the planet.

There is no doubt that LH is seeing himself one day in Ferrari. To be honest I don't mind that idea too.

[FA fan]

PLEASE DO NOT USE ALL CAPS TITLES--TSN Mod

Sorry about that

[kinkas]

Hamilton and Hulkenberg or Hamilton and Bianchi

That's our driver lineup after Alonso retires.

I would prefer Vettel and Hulkenberg. I am not yet sure that Hamilton has forgotten his "Hollywood" hobbies / dreams. Ferrari environment can tame any "wild horse" (Vettel).

[Tifoso]

Sorry about that

No apology necessary

[Massimo]

There is no doubt that LH is seeing himself one day in Ferrari. To be honest I don't mind that idea too.

Hamilton driving for Ferrari? No problem!

[NickEice]

I would prefer Vettel and Hulkenberg. I am not yet sure that Hamilton has forgotten his "Hollywood" hobbies / dreams. Ferrari environment can tame any "wild horse" (Vettel).

I can't stand Vettel. Hamilton is starting to grow on me a bit. Never thought i'd say that though! Perhaps because he no longer drivers for McLaren lol

[Alonsomaniac]

I would prefer Vettel and Hulkenberg. I am not yet sure that Hamilton has forgotten his "Hollywood" hobbies / dreams. Ferrari environment can tame any "wild horse" (Vettel).

Vettel is no "wild horse"....any horse on this planet would see this association as an insult. He's a rat.
Hamilton on the other hand, is maturing in a good way...he could be our new horse, maybe even drive together with Fernando someday.

[Jose Lorca]

Here's what I think based on how the drivers have acted recently:

• Could Hamilton handle a beating from Alonso? Yes
• Could Hamilton handle a beating from Vettel? Yes
• Could Alonso handle a beating from Hamilton? Yes
• Could Alonso handle a beating from Vettel? Yes
• Could Vettel handle a beating from Hamilton? No
• Could Vettel handle a beating from Alonso? No

So Hamilton is right that he and Alonso could work together without causing problems, and Vettel will only cope if he has a weaker teammate. Champions do mature over time though.

[mark p]

I can't stand Vettel. Hamilton is starting to grow on me a bit. Never thought i'd say that though! Perhaps because he no longer drivers for McLaren lol

+1. Dont know if its mclaren or ron dennis. once hes gone maybe even mclaren may become likeable?

[Corey]

"Some people are nosey, or they've nothing better to do. They're entitled to their opinions, but Jackie talks a lot."

Is he attempting a chirp at Jackie?

[FA fan]

Probably, he thinks he's ayrton senna:)

[racingbradley]

Somehow I have a feeling that Mercedes as a team are on the up. Hamilton appears to have asserted himself as no 1 there. I cannot see him wanting to leave there for a possible no 2.
Who knows how the hierarchy will pan out in 2014????

[Infi24r]

I have great respect for Lewis.

But if he beat Alonso in his rookie year I can't see finger boy posing much of a threat.

Red Bull don't want a driver faster than Vettel.

[Infi24r]

Here's what I think based on how the drivers have acted recently:

• Could Hamilton handle a beating from Alonso? Yes
• Could Hamilton handle a beating from Vettel? Yes
• Could Alonso handle a beating from Hamilton? Yes
• Could Alonso handle a beating from Vettel? Yes
• Could Vettel handle a beating from Hamilton? No
• Could Vettel handle a beating from Alonso? No

So Hamilton is right that he and Alonso could work together without causing problems, and Vettel will only cope if he has a weaker teammate. Champions do mature over time though.

Hamilton couldn't handle a beating from either of them.

It says something about his attitude that he would go to either team with full confidence in his ability.

I know people don't like it, but Hamilton's ferocious speed remind me of Senna. He is the current Senna, a driver so brilliant but taking many years to get into the right team.

[EL_NANDO]

Hamilton couldn't handle a beating from either of them.

It says something about his attitude that he would go to either team with full confidence in his ability.

I know people don't like it, but Hamilton's ferocious speed remind me of Senna. He is the current Senna, a driver so brilliant but taking many years to get into the right team.

Anthony Hamilton, is that you?

Seriously, if Hamilton didn't paint his helmet yellow and mention Senna at every possible opportunity, would there be ANY comparison made with Senna? I doubt it.

Would Senna have been outscored over 3 seasons by Jenson Button?

[Infi24r]

Anthony Hamilton, is that you?

Seriously, if Hamilton didn't paint his helmet yellow and mention Senna at every possible opportunity, would there be ANY comparison made with Senna? I doubt it.

Would Senna have been outscored over 3 seasons by Jenson Button?

Senna was outscored over 2 seasons by Prost, so maybe?

The only reason Jenson got close is Lewis had a ridiculous amount of car problems relative to Jenson. How many wins did he lose in 2012 alone through no fault of his own? 5?

[Alonsomaniac]

Bringing the name Senna into this is complete nonsense. Hamilton is Hamilton and he is a superb racingdriver. It only took him many years to grow up and only after he left Woking we get to see Lewis as the man he really is now he is getting older. For me there is no doubt that Fernando and Lewis are the best drivers out there, although I also rate Kimi very high. Fernando is currently the best of the three, not because he is faster but because he is the more complete driver.
Kimi is Kimi, blindingly fast but that's it.
Lewis however, is still getting better and if he continues to do so he could very well reach Alonso's level of being a master not only in the car, but also in tactics and in interacting with the engineers and the rest of the team.
We have always been against Lewis, but now he is really growing up I think we should reconsider that and recognize what he really is: one of the very best.
Will he ever be a candidate for a Ferrari seat? Of course he will, he is a topdriver and where do true topdrivers eventually want to go to?
Exactly...

[Infi24r]

Bringing the name Senna into this is complete nonsense. Hamilton is Hamilton and he is a superb racingdriver. It only took him many years to grow up and only after he left Woking we get to see Lewis as the man he really is now he is getting older. For me there is no doubt that Fernando and Lewis are the best drivers out there, although I also rate Kimi very high. Fernando is currently the best of the three, not because he is faster but because he is the more complete driver.
Kimi is Kimi, blindingly fast but that's it.
Lewis however, is still getting better and if he continues to do so he could very well reach Alonso's level of being a master not only in the car, but also in tactics and in interacting with the engineers and the rest of the team.
We have always been against Lewis, but now he is really growing up I think we should reconsider that and recognize what he really is: one of the very best.
Will he ever be a candidate for a Ferrari seat? Of course he will, he is a topdriver and where do true topdrivers eventually want to go to?
Exactly...

Lewis is also gaining strong humility and has lost the bratty instinct that once held him back. He's a driver in every way now.

I really felt the McLaren and Button environment was toxic for him, he didn't like the management and he didn't want to stay.

I agree that Hamilton is probably faster than Alonso over one lap but Fernando is more complete. When modern races require so much tyre management and racing strategy Fernando is the driver id prefer.

[Corey]

Lewis is also gaining strong humility and has lost the bratty instinct that once held him back. He's a driver in every way now.

When was he a proven brat, the Ali-G incident?

[EL_NANDO]

Senna was outscored over 2 seasons by Prost, so maybe?

The only reason Jenson got close is Lewis had a ridiculous amount of car problems relative to Jenson. How many wins did he lose in 2012 alone through no fault of his own? 5?

Are you seriously comparing Prost to Button?

And lost 5 wins in 2012, what races are you talking about? I can't even think of 1 CERTAIN win he lost, maybe Singapore, but even then there was still 50% of the race to go and Vettel was right on his tail.

[Infi24r]

Are you seriously comparing Prost to Button?

And lost 5 wins in 2012, what races are you talking about? I can't even think of 1 CERTAIN win he lost, maybe Singapore, but even then there was still 50% of the race to go and Vettel was right on his tail.

He would have walked Spain if not for the quali up. Singapore he would have won, as Abu Dhabi. Hulkenberg collected him in Brazil. He would have won. I think he would have won Spa too if not for Grosjean, as Button won in the same car. Ditto Germany, he had far better pace after the tyre mess.

His 2012 season was just a mess as a whole, but I think there was minimum 3 and probably as many as 5 victories lost.

[FA fan]

Hamilton couldn't handle a beating from either of them.

It says something about his attitude that he would go to either team with full confidence in his ability.

I know people don't like it, but Hamilton's ferocious speed remind me of Senna. He is the current Senna, a driver so brilliant but taking many years to get into the right team.

For him to be the current senna,he has to first drive as good as senna in the rain

[FerrariIce]

Bringing the name Senna into this is complete nonsense. Hamilton is Hamilton and he is a superb racingdriver. It only took him many years to grow up and only after he left Woking we get to see Lewis as the man he really is now he is getting older. For me there is no doubt that Fernando and Lewis are the best drivers out there, although I also rate Kimi very high. Fernando is currently the best of the three, not because he is faster but because he is the more complete driver.
Kimi is Kimi, blindingly fast but that's it.
Lewis however, is still getting better and if he continues to do so he could very well reach Alonso's level of being a master not only in the car, but also in tactics and in interacting with the engineers and the rest of the team.
We have always been against Lewis, but now he is really growing up I think we should reconsider that and recognize what he really is: one of the very best.
Will he ever be a candidate for a Ferrari seat? Of course he will, he is a topdriver and where do true topdrivers eventually want to go to?
Exactly...

I have to defend Kimi here because i am his fan, remember he gave us our last WDC in his first year at Ferrari on a car that wasn't design to his driving style, and especially in 2008 where the car deviated further away from his driving style he still got results with all the struggles he faced.

Kimi is the most gifted driver in his era and most people fail to see that just because of his 2008 woes and motivation rumours, being in F1 under 23 races under his belt.and challenging Michael in 2003 having a car with 2002 specs is more than enough to say the guy can challenge for WDC even if he does not have a top 3 car, just as long as the car is into his liking, it's up to the team to exploit his talent and Ferrari could have done better on extracting his talent on those times when he was driving for them.

People kept on saying that Kimi isn't a complete driver but the difference between him and Fernando is that Kimi doesn't want the team leader status.I feel that Kimi is really underrated and understated along with Vettel and its mostly about Lewis and Fernando bandwagon.