Lewis Hamilton: a very (un)British sportsman?
by Benson Jammichello on Jun 1st, 2011Fresh from Lewis Hamilton's outburst after the Monaco Grand Prix, we look at his place in the wider pantheon of British sports people.
Tim Henman, Eddie the Eagle, Colin Montgomery, the England football team; all are examples of that famous breed of great British sporting losers. For those uninitiated in this mystical, but sadly not mythical, genre of sporting underclass, a brief definition would be: a person (or team) who demonstrate the ability to play sport at a high level (well, Eddie the Eagle got to the Olympics didn't he?) but, for whatever mental reason, couldn't quite push over the finishing line to achieve the ultimate prize.
The most famous of those must be Tiger Tim, the Lord of Henman Hill. He tried, he was good, sometimes very and, most of all, he just seemed nice. Apart from one well-publicised incident with a ball girl (he hit her with a ball), he never seemed to lose his cool; he always lost with dignity, behaved with pride, had good manners and appeared to be well liked within his sporting community. The perfect British sportsman.
His successor in the British tennis world is Andy Murray who, at least on court, appears to be an angry, petulant, barely constrained ball of rage. A single-minded determination to win shines from his every pore - he's dismissive in interviews and forever angry at himself in his attempt to push himself forward into the elite of world tennis who've won a Grand Slam. And, you know what, we don't like him very much.
Another modern British sportsman to suffer from the same attitude is Lewis Hamilton. But why?
Photo: McLaren Media
When he came into Formula 1 as a McLaren protege he was confronted with double world champion Fernando Alonso in the same team. He took him on, toe-to-toe, faced him down and effectively made the team pick one of them at the end of the season. Unsurprisingly, they chose the driver they'd nurtured through junior formula, was British and, it turned out, pretty damn quick. This led to two altogether more friendly team-mates in Heikki Kovalainen and Jenson Button. Tick.
When it came to making difficult decisions that straddled his personal and professional life, he did that too. Goodbye Dad, hello one of the biggest sports agencies in the world. If he'd been a proper British sporting hero, he'd have kept his Dad on. Wouldn't that have been nice?
Does he conduct himself well at all times? No. Evidence his outburst after Monaco and his tendency to blame his team when things go wrong. That said, it doesn't seem to have served those notorious underachievers Sir Alex Ferguson or Jose Mourinho that badly does it? You don't just have to think that you're right and everyone else is wrong, you've got to believe it beyond a shadow of a doubt. The British sporting hero shouldn't apportion blame, at least not to anyone but himself, and should be continually grateful to his support staff for getting him in a position to compete.
We in Britain don't tend to like things like that - we think he's too uppity, too forward, too brash, not humble enough and lives a lifestyle so far apart from the rest of us he may as well be on a different planet. Witness the reaction to Ricky Hatton, a man whose fame didn't seem to have changed him in any way at all, who drank beer, ate fry-ups and whose fans were moved to travel half way across the world on a regular basis to support their man. He was them, they were him. That was love; Hamilton only inspires respect, if that.
However, speaking personally, that's what I want to see. A British sportsman who, quite frankly, doesn't give a damn what anyone else thinks and has a realistic view of how good he is and his value to his team. It's his career, his legacy, his talent and he has a responsibility to make the best of it. Loyalty to McLaren, or to anyone holding him back, would be stupid.
Yes, he may have a pop star girlfriend and an annoying beard, pierced ears and a liking for big sunglasses, but he's a winner and one of (if not the) best. Maybe that's why we don't like him.
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Comments and Discussion
Agree totally, it amazes me the amount of Hamilton haters out there. He is the reason I have been watching the sport again for the last 4 years, he speaks his mind, drives the wheels off the car and is British, what is not to like. It may seem like a big statement but I enjoy watching him race like no one else since Senna. I also think part of the reason for the dislike is that he knows he is good and this is very un-British also, give me a car he says and i will beat anyone!
Well written, Lewis is an awesome F1 driver and ambassador for the UK. I'm very proud to have him out there doing what he does!! I feel his frustration against the FIA is valid, he's been pulled up for little things while Ferrari (Alonso hit lewis racing!) and golden child Vettel (Swerving to block lewis) get away with worse!!!
Don't get me wrong, Webber and Vettel are great, Alonso awesome and Jenson better than I thought, but Lewis and Kobayashi are the only 2 people prepared to race on track rather than tactics and we need more like them......leave the popularity contest to politicians!!
Keep it up
Agreed
Very well said, I've been saying the same thing for quite some time (just not as articulately).
It does annoy me how the same people that laud Senna as some kind of god that can do no wrong, hate Hamilton for the same things.
Lewis is a winner, in his quest for success sometimes he crosses the line, but that's what I love about him. The sport needs more Alonso's, Schumacher's and Irvines, and less Heiki's and Barrichellos.
Senna had great talent, but he also was prepared to go that little further than his rivals, that attitude of, I'm going into that corner first, if you're there we will crash.
I hope Lewis doesn't change, he's a winner and I love to watch him race.
Steve Dearsley beat me to this: Lewis and Kobayashi-san are the only drivers who (in Senna's words) 'go for the gap'. F1 needs them.
I wish Massa would stop whining and start driving quickly instead - complaining about other drivers won't save his Ferrari seat. There is a huge difference between Schumi/Barichello in Hungary and Lewis/Massa last week. Who thinks Lewis has anything on his mind other than getting past and winning the race? That's what we want! Isn't it?
i love Lewis Hamilton he's the reason I started to watch formula one when i was 12. you've got to love him for his honesty
How refreshing to read! I'm fed up to the back teeth of the Lewis haters. Yeah, we love Jenson too, but Lewis has that fire and passion that keeps us on the edge of our seats.
And having met him, he's a nice guy too - and very humble. I say, let the haters hate and miss out one of the best drivers of all time... Who knows, in 20 yrs we may look back and call him THE best. I certainly hope so.
I'm not sure about people saying he speaks his mind and honesty etc..
He is famed for rattling out mclaren pr speak and got caught lying very publicly. He post race press conferences are like cookie cutters, snore. I love watching the guy on track and i do agree with this article, on the basis that he carries on being like this, outspoken etc. But he certainly hasn't exhibited this outspoken behaviour very often in his career.
What I have always liked about Lewis more than anything, is his driving speaks for itself. Jenson needs to develop a bit more of the killer instinct more often, he demonstrates he is capable every now and then.
Another vote here that is bored with the Lewis haters.
He tries hard, he doesn't always get it right, but he never gives up and even when everything is stacked against him he keeps trying.
I enjoy watching the sport, and will continue to support any British drivers ( and anyone who is nice and trying hard, such as Heikki and Karun).
What he said on sunday was a badly timed joke. Given the time back he probably wouldn't say the same thing again, but I am sure there aren't many out there who can't say exactly the same about incidents in their lives, it is just that his was played out in front of the worlds press.
Thanks for all the comments. I have to say when I wrote the piece that I wasn't expecting so many comments in agreement, but there's obviously a strain of opinion out there very much in favour of Hamilton, his general attitude and what it means for F1. Long may it continue.
Interesting article. But not everyone's opinion. I am British and absolutely adore him. I adore his back-story, I adore his brilliance, I adore his wonderful relationship with his fans, and I love his beard, earrings, and his mega-sunglasses. He is the bees knees to me and I'm not alone. Why do you speak for everyone? To me and many of his true fans, he wears his heart on his sleeve, knows his own incredible talent, and wants to be rewarded for it, not be dragged into the stewards time and again for perfectly legitimate racing moves (have a look at the footage again - even some of the so-called experts like Martin Brundle think he might have been wrongly penalised). If he and Schumacher are aware enough to give room when overtakes are happening, why aren't the moronic Massa and Maldonado? If any other driver had been involved, I am certain Massa (who isn't exactly the best driver on the grid) and Maldonado (a rookie pay driver) would be the ones the media and "fans" blamed. Lewis joked on Sunday but he actually said what I and a lot of people have thought for a long time - this almost exclusively white rich sport just doesn't like this "uppity" (great word you used there - often used to describe negroes in the Deep South pre-civil rights) black guy showing them all how it's done. He IS penalised more than the others for things others get away with again and again and you wonder why he asks himself the reason (or why Lee McKenzie asked in the first place).
So, we, his fans and fans of proper racing and not boring processions to crown the annoying grinning guy in the fastest car as WDC without any challenge, love Lewis for who and what he is and don't want him to change at all. We actually really really like the guy. OKAY?
The only thing I used to like about him was his driving and now that is going down the drain as well. The guy is a liar (Australia 09) and a cheat who only blames others when things don't go his way.
He's not a winner as him lucking into one title in what will be 5 years proves and a sore loser.
I hope the powers that be in F1 will teach him a lesson for running his mouth like that in Monaco.
Good article, but from my experience Lewis Hamilton has PLENTY of British fans. The points made in this article are certainly valid when it comes to a certain section of british sports fans, who like a plucky underdog and a certain "well gosh, we didn't quite manage it, but golly, we'll keep on trying" attitude, but for most, the only criteria they look for in a driver (or any sportsman) is that he is British, any other factor is irrelevant. I can't stand that kind of nationalistic, sycophantic support.
I never liked Tim Henman, I don't like Andy Murray, I couldn't care less if England win at football, and I don't like Lewis Hamilton. I'm not ashamed of that, and I'm damn sure I'm not going cheer someone on, simply because they happened to be born on the same piece of rock that I was.
Say that sort of thing in the company of some people and you will be called 'unpatriotic' at best, or told that you should "bloody well get out of the country then if you don't support our brits" (I've genuinely been told that more than once.)
If not liking Hamilton makes me a 'Hater' as many of his fans like to say, then, call me a hater. But I don't like Jaimie Alguersuari either, or Micheal Schumacher... maybe that makes me a hater too?
Or maybe I just think people should base their support on things other than nationality.
"He's not a winner as him lucking into one title"
Pretty hard to win anything without luck. I also think being a sore loser is a major plus point for any driver. If you are satisifed not to win, why are you there?
We all have 'off' days. Monaco was HIS RACE. He was bouncing like a kid in a candy store in post-Practice interviews on Thursday so no surprise that he felt annoyed and vented on Sunday.
An unfortunately BAD joke is all he did wrong, but then he never claimed to be a comedian. Still a top BRITISH sportman in my opinion.
I really wasn't a fan of Senna. He often took the Schuie approach of leaving no choice but for the other driver to back out of it or have a crash (or sometimes to just have the crash anyway like in Japan '90).
I Iike Lewis, and also Kobayashi and Hakkinen & Montoya before them, because they leave racing room which is the way it should be. In both incidents in Monaco, the only way to stop him overtaking was to close the door unfairly and cause a crash, which puts the blame at least at 50/50 in my eyes. I'm still in shock that the paragon of virtue in Monaco was Schuie. The world is upside down!
Who do you like Daniel!?
seconded!
Well I like him for reasons other than him being British. I am not a fan of any other British sports person or the England team, but I do like Lewis!
Tell me about it. The two racers who were aggressive but also had brains and spacial awareness!!! But then I think Hamilton is generally a very fair racer.
Andy Murray is more of a winner than Hamilton will ever be. I don't think we Brits should see Lewis as an example. The guy is so full of himself and guess what there are way better drivers in F1 nowadays. Not only drivers who can overtake properly, but also gentlemen off track which Lewis sadly isn't.
I didn't get that the article was saying that Lewis has or doesn't have 'British' fans just that we Brits have a particular attitude towards sports and sporting heroes - namely loving the underdog and deriding anyone who says they're a winner as being arrogant etc.
I would say this particularly goes for large sections of the media in this country as well which often set the agenda for how a story goes down by the tone they take. I have no idea if this is the same in other countries as I don't live there although methinks it certainly isn't the case in the US considering the different way their sportsmen talk and behave!
I also don't think the article suggested you couldn't support whom you liked and for whatever reasons you like. The fact that lots of people are saying that Kamui has the same do or die attitude to his racing implies that race (namely nationality) isn't the reason for the appreciation.
Anyone who knocks someone out of a race gets a certain amount of grief from the fans of the driver who came out worse. That's natural. The general desire to see the 'arrogance' knocked out of a confident driver is a whole different kettle of fish however ... in my opinion.
I think this proves the article's point LOL
It makes me laugh when people talk about 'all these Lewis haters' Just try being a fan of any other driver and living in the UK! All the press is biased towards him - Just ask yourself what the reaction from the press would have been if Alonso or Schumacher had driven like that in Monaco?
Personally I formed my opinion of him when he drove in to the back of Kimi in Canada a couple of years ago, didn't apologise but moaned that it was a shame because he was going to win the race easily!
His attitude hasn't let me down since.
Murray is a winner hey? Which grand slam was that then
As for Lewis being a liar, he lied, once, that doesn't make him a liar.
Is it cos' I is black - that no-one likes me? Ah diddums - get over it and just do the driving bit.- you are pretty good at that. Leave the PR and TV to JB he has some class.
My sister is many shades blacker than Lewis and she has to deal with real racism in her daily life.
I'll slap him silly when I meet him next time the petulant, self absorbed tosser. What a loser that guy is.
Whatever the attitude or the nationality, I cheer for Lewis because he is a tremendous driver. Results are due to both talent and technology...in 2008 he won through talent, in 2009 and 2010 he lost through (lack-of-effective) technology.
I used to cheer for Montoya, not becuase he had great results, but because he was the ballsiest driver out there..Lewis and Alonso now share that trait. I intensely dislike Alonso, but still rate him very highly as a driver; I really like Mark Webber as a person, but fear he simply doesn't have the killer instinct to be champion.
Hamilton seriously needs to move teams in 2013..Button is starting to make himself very comfortable at McLaren and, although I think he's missing 2 or 3 tenths in ultimate pace, his team of engineers is visibly superior strategically to those on the Hamilton side of the garage.
I'm not British (Aussie) and given the choice to have a drink with a driver in F1, I'd take Lewis any day. He drives hard and fast (and yeah, sure, he knows it) but I have yet to see him drive with malice or so far over the edge that he's unsportsmanlike or dangerous.
And as for the joke... get over it people.
Liking a driver for his track exploits is different to liking a driver for his off track personality. Some great examples of drivers I like on track are Alonso, Mansell, Kimi and (J) Villeneuve.
Off track is another matter. They are (in turn) whiney, moaney, mumbley and gobby.
But on track they were both entertaining and fair. Obviously if they could be witty, courteous and lovely people too *cough* De Angeles, Patrese, Prost, Trulli *cough* then it would be even better, but it doesn't effect my support of them during a race.
Take that whiners!
Massively amazing mega article. Thank you, 'Benson'
Interesting article, but I can't help feeling that Lewis is the way he is because he is so driven by the desire to win. Perhaps his media outbursts at the team are just a reflection of an incredibly frustrated guy who drives the wheels off the car each and every race? He definitely praises the team when things are going well (think about the turnaround over the winter for McLaren to the first race).
Whatever he's like after the race, I relish watching him drive. Few drivers have that out and out racing edge that Lewis has. To me, Senna summed it up: "...By being a racing driver means you are racing with other people. And if you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver because we are competing, competing to win..." - I don't mean to compare Hamilton to Senna directly (that's for another article??) but I do think that they share that same attitude to racing: it's all about the results, not necessarily thinking about the morale of the team.
Laura, I couldn't have put it better myself.
Laura's got there first again. Yes, I do think this proves the article's point very well.
Hi Justin, I think that's an interesting point re Button's place in the McLaren team. Do you not think that it might be to do with the fact that Button has to try different approaches and strategies as he's simply not as fast as Hamilton? We only see him doing something different when he does it well.
What on earth gives you the right to assume Lewis has never been the victim of racial abuse himself? I'm not really sure the 'shade' is that important... he's never referred to as the first 'mixed race' F1 WDC is he?
Get over yourself, you petulant self-absorbed tosser.
Great article!!
Lewis exhibits real passion about his racing - which is something an F1 fan wants to see. Humility is all well and good, but Lewis' outburst following the Monaco GP was real, raw emotion. I completely empathised with what he had to say. Would we prefer it if drivers didn't come out and talk to the press when they are fired up like that? At the end of the day it was obvious that McLaren had two cars on the track, with two fantastic drivers, who could have won at Monaco. Lewis had a shed load of bad luck fall his way. If the team had sent him out at the start of Q3 maybe he could have been on pole. It was real bad luck he started in P9. Then in the race we saw a horrendous pit stop, but these things happen.
However, Lewis drove his car to death, he made fantastic moves on the circuit - and personally, that is why I watch F1! We didn't just see a procession of cars, we saw drivers racing. Lewis' outburst following the race was the icing on the cake. At least he had the humility in hind sight to publicly apologised to all involved. These are real people after all, who want to be at the top of their game, and it was obvious Lewis could have (and should have?) won at Monaco. I reckon I would have been pretty p*ssed off too, we all know how much a win at Monaco means to F1 drivers.