bhallg2k wrote:Why did Hamilton share this with us?
I realize this is a technical forum, but this question is inherently not a question which is technical in nature, its answer also cant be entirely technical. I don't know why I am taking the time to write this, but since I do care about the people in this forum, and all the help offered to me through the knowledge shared, I thought I would return the favor even if it gets deleted. So here is my 2 cents.
I think to know why LH did this has nothing to do with the technical aspect of the trace, or the fact his car was/was not slower over the course of a lap. I think this was just a catalyst to the bigger picture--an insinuation of his continued frustration with his position as a driver and his placement/requirements at Macca, Int.
First, he is entering the best years of his career. He has experience, a title, some respect from the other drivers, and his skills clearly are there. But look at his position as far as what he wants and what is offered to him at Macca....
Macca has a rule that we all know that states the real trophies stay in England. Period. I doubt even the talents of one LH will bend Ron or Whitmarsh to change what has always been in place at that company. Should Ron allow him to take the real deals, Ron I am sure will be receiving a lot of calls from former great Macca drivers (with many wins and equal or more WDC's) demanding that they get the real ones also. It would open a colossal cluster f%&k can at Macca which non of the leadership there has time for or would put up with. Therefore, imho, I don't see it happening. Considering how important LH has emphasized his desire for the real thing, clearly this is a HUGE rub point for him. How do we know this? Just before entering the break he actually
publicly vented his frustration regarding not getting the real trophies, and that trophies and helmets are "the only tangible evidence a driver has to carry with him as he looks back at his career" or something along that line is what he said, and, that Macca would have to pay if they wanted HIM to put up with that rule. Just who does this guy think he is? He did this in public to millions and millions and millions of people?!? Tell your girlfriend, sure, your brother, sure, dad, sure, but the world?? IMO, that is completely inappropriate. Nevertheless, I think it was the first straw showing his growing frustration there.
Secondly, he comes back from break and actually says publicly that the contract he was offered was "sh*t". He said this about Macca!! An international, multi multi multi hundreds of millions of dollars company with a long, storied history, and a very calculated class act of nobility that they take great pains to potentiate and ensure. It has been and will always be a major mark of character with this team. They now have a driver who is desecrating this by throwing into public obscenities towards a viable contract I am sure worth millions that any one of us would probably cut a nut off to have the opportunity to consider as a racing driver. Further, I ask, would any of you say that when you received a contract from a major international cooperation in regards to YOUR vocation/contract?? I would say 99% of you would not, and the 1% of you that would, would no longer have that contract as an option when you returned to work on monday. Further, you would be removed, and have no chance at ever working with that company again, and probably no chance to work at any serious company in your field again. To me, its a big deal and if I was Ron or Martin I would have NO TIME AT ALL for such behavior and nor should they as far as I am concerned.
Third...He decides to put into the public, private technical team information. Valuable information? Thats being argued, but that is irrelevant to the psychology of what is really going on here. The point is that LH is pissed because he really is in a pickle and he is venting this frustration by undermining the central source of his frustration. Justified frustration or not, putting that photo out was a blatant act of insubordination of the team, and even if the information is meaningless for the most part, it is, in fact, private team information which he has absolutely no business putting into the public eye and is publicly abusing the entire team by the action which shows a cavalier and out of control attitude which not only does not fit the Macca personnel equation, it really does not fit any action by any driver on any team--especially Macca. I think it goes back to the decision to bring him in as a rookie to a top flight team--he never paid his dues and now thinks he is something on a stick--he may not say this and act calm in interviews, but his actions are what you have to read to understand what is really going on here.
So, why would he do this? Look at his position--should he leave Macca, he would embrace serious risk to the highest point of his career as far as driving potential is concerned. Most likely he would not go to RB or Ferrari so that would leave Lotus and maybe Sauber/Williams as options. Neither of those teams is nearly as much as a guarantee to be competitive as Macca year after year. That, imo, is something he simply does not want to risk at this point, and further, if they were not competitive, he would absolutely blow a fuse and he may just call it over prematurely because quite frankly, I don't see in LH a driver with a ton of "just shut up and drive it" gumption like a Mark Webber or Fernando Alonso. LH has said many times he is only here to win a lot of races and he expects as such.
Should he stay at Macca, he will end his career with a bunch of fakes sitting on his wall (should he get wins--I know a few drivers and they all have tossed their 2nd place and lower trophies--none of them have any care to remember being first or second loser) and I can certainly understand that being a major frustration as I would not want fakes either. So there's the pickle...stay with Macca and get a competitive car and fake trophies, or leave macca and risk being in a P.O.S. car for many seasons with a year or two of real opportunity to succeed--maybe. That's a big risk as without wins, he will just be another good driver that got some wins and an early championship (which some still question since it landed on his lap in a way, but who cares, a WDC is a WDC) but never was much more than that. Or, have genuine opportunity to win multiple titles and dozens and dozens wins/poles and be remembered as a driving legend...or something like that.
Finally, I will say this...if Macca continues to put up with these sorts of shenanigans, I will be very surprised. Yea, LH is a good driver, but he is in a really good car, and all they would need to do is find another good driver--which they most certainly can do without much trouble. Lewis on the other hand does not have such a simple luxury, and my suggestion would be to just shut up, drive the car, and leave the tech info and contract details behind closed doors in England, accept your fake trophies and make the most of your years. Thats a pretty fabulous life to have and few people ever have such an opportunity. Be thankful and shut up and drive. Nobody has to know the trophies are fake do they...? Well, oops, I guess they will because LH told everyone they were--just another lesson to keep your mouth shut and just drive the friggin car.
Again, my apologies for the length, I just wanted to contribute in some way since I really don't have much technically to offer this site.
Cheers-
Watching F1 since 1986.
