Lewis Hamilton in the BTCC ?
Discussion
Once Lewis has beaten all Schumacher’s records should he join the BTCC as a driver to prove his greatness as a driver as Jim Clark, Moss, Hill etc did in their multi discipline drives ? So far he’s only driven the best F1 cars available at any time to achieve his record. There were probably a number of drivers who could have done great things if they had joined Mercedes when he did. We haven’t seen what he could do in another championship. Many young drivers coming into F1 have done endurance or DTM.
How would he do against Turkington or Sutton in the BTCC ?
Maybe Mercedes would support him with the car and sponsorship?
Maybe the English weather or having to pay UK taxes would be too much for him.
How would he do against Turkington or Sutton in the BTCC ?
Maybe Mercedes would support him with the car and sponsorship?
Maybe the English weather or having to pay UK taxes would be too much for him.
Ok I’ll bite on what I suspect is just a troll post.
Why on Earth would he choose to go to the BTCC? WEC maybe, or even Indy Car (since he seems to be a big fan of American culture) but BTCC is quite a lowly championship in the grand scheme of things.
As it is, given his broad spectrum of interests, I doubt he’ll continue racing once he leaves F1. He will have proven himself at the very elite of the sport and will have nothing else to prove. Expect to see him expand his other interests such as music and fashion. You might see him in a Lauda type role somewhere or just putting more focus on his commission to broaden diversity in the sport.
Finally, as has been stated in other posts (though ignored by all Lewis haters) he is in the top 1% of uk tax payers and probably pays more tax than anyone on Piston Heads (if not everyone combined).
Why on Earth would he choose to go to the BTCC? WEC maybe, or even Indy Car (since he seems to be a big fan of American culture) but BTCC is quite a lowly championship in the grand scheme of things.
As it is, given his broad spectrum of interests, I doubt he’ll continue racing once he leaves F1. He will have proven himself at the very elite of the sport and will have nothing else to prove. Expect to see him expand his other interests such as music and fashion. You might see him in a Lauda type role somewhere or just putting more focus on his commission to broaden diversity in the sport.
Finally, as has been stated in other posts (though ignored by all Lewis haters) he is in the top 1% of uk tax payers and probably pays more tax than anyone on Piston Heads (if not everyone combined).
My remark regarding the BTCC was firstly as a response to Jackie Stewart’s recent remarks about drivers of previous generations driving various other disciplines. Lewis could do “guest” drives in other championships rather than full championships.
I’m sure when he stops F1 he will retain some links with Mercedes so he may still do some driving for them. It could be in championships or historical events like other F1 drivers have done.
He has indicated that he isn’t leaving Motorsport behind by getting involved with the new E rallysport.
I’d be interested to see him against other drivers from other disciplines in rear wheel drive cars which I why I mentioned Turkington and Sutton. Champion of Champions ?
The comment about weather and taxes were “tongue in cheek” remarks that are often thrown into discussions about high achievers in many areas of life who no longer live full time in the UK. The UK does not have the best weather and there are better countries for low rates of tax. Having said that, Lewis has enough money to live and do whatever he wants and I have no problem with that.
I’m sure when he stops F1 he will retain some links with Mercedes so he may still do some driving for them. It could be in championships or historical events like other F1 drivers have done.
He has indicated that he isn’t leaving Motorsport behind by getting involved with the new E rallysport.
I’d be interested to see him against other drivers from other disciplines in rear wheel drive cars which I why I mentioned Turkington and Sutton. Champion of Champions ?
The comment about weather and taxes were “tongue in cheek” remarks that are often thrown into discussions about high achievers in many areas of life who no longer live full time in the UK. The UK does not have the best weather and there are better countries for low rates of tax. Having said that, Lewis has enough money to live and do whatever he wants and I have no problem with that.
Kraken said:
I never get this obsession with Hamiltons taxes. He doesn't live in this country so why on earth should he pay taxes here? How about whining about people dodging vat, claiming fraudulent covid relief etc who do live in this country?
...Of course back in thd 60s you had to live in Pariis to avoid tax. Like Clark....Never going to happen in a million years but if you were talking hypothetically I’d say if he jumped in one with no experience he’d do well to be top ten. If he spent a day in one before the race weekend I’d expect him to be challenging for a win.
I’d also be surprised if he rocked up and handed us all our arses. The current elite handful of drivers in BTCC are pretty s
t hot by most standards and the cars are a pain in the arse to get the last fraction out of consistently.
I’d also be surprised if he rocked up and handed us all our arses. The current elite handful of drivers in BTCC are pretty s
t hot by most standards and the cars are a pain in the arse to get the last fraction out of consistently.
mmm-five said:
He'll retire from F1 and become the new Stig...or maybe go back to karting.
Anyway, hasn't already announce plans to become a team boss...currently in Formula Save-The-Planet Offroad (or whatever it's called).
Owning a team in Extreme E isn't the same thing as being a team principal. It requires essentially zero input from him, just media stuff every now and again.Anyway, hasn't already announce plans to become a team boss...currently in Formula Save-The-Planet Offroad (or whatever it's called).
Tazar said:
My remark regarding the BTCC was firstly as a response to Jackie Stewart’s recent remarks about drivers of previous generations driving various other disciplines. Lewis could do “guest” drives in other championships rather than full championships.
I’m sure when he stops F1 he will retain some links with Mercedes so he may still do some driving for them. It could be in championships or historical events like other F1 drivers have done.
I'd like to see him try other disciplines - but he's never really seemed that enthusiastic about other series; which is a shame. I understand specialisation, but it's a shame more don't at least try 'one off' outings. Saying that, Alonso seems to get flack for attempting other series, for some reason. Loeb has tried others series, as has Dumas, so it still is done.I’m sure when he stops F1 he will retain some links with Mercedes so he may still do some driving for them. It could be in championships or historical events like other F1 drivers have done.
And, while he is a multi time F1 World Champion, he isn't necessarily the best driver in motorsport......same as in cycling were the Road race world champion isn't necessarily the best cyclist in the world.
Purely an opinion, my perception is that basically he is driven by his ambition which always been about being the best in F1. He probably derives enjoyment from competing in those cars but less from actually driving them.
Plenty of other successful drivers, Alonso and Button for example, you get the feeling that they have a love for driving racing cars that goes alongside their ambition and career focus. With LH I never get the impression that love is there, achieving his goals and being the best in F1 gives him the financial and personal gratification.
I'd venture a guess he'd never do any motorsport for the sake of it unless he mellows after retirement.
Plenty of other successful drivers, Alonso and Button for example, you get the feeling that they have a love for driving racing cars that goes alongside their ambition and career focus. With LH I never get the impression that love is there, achieving his goals and being the best in F1 gives him the financial and personal gratification.
I'd venture a guess he'd never do any motorsport for the sake of it unless he mellows after retirement.
The BTCC may only be a national championship but over the years it has attracted some F1 names. Some have been successful, well Tarquini anyway. Our Nigel Mansell tried it and Mark Blundell did last year. Personally I think it is one of the best championships for spectators, particularly on the tv.
The Wookie said:
Purely an opinion, my perception is that basically he is driven by his ambition which always been about being the best in F1. He probably derives enjoyment from competing in those cars but less from actually driving them.
Plenty of other successful drivers, Alonso and Button for example, you get the feeling that they have a love for driving racing cars that goes alongside their ambition and career focus. With LH I never get the impression that love is there, achieving his goals and being the best in F1 gives him the financial and personal gratification.
I'd venture a guess he'd never do any motorsport for the sake of it unless he mellows after retirement.
agreed. once Hamilton finishes in F1, that'll be it for his competition career. He'll never drive anything competitively again, probably not even the Goodwood revival. He is a global icon, and I think he has an eye on how he'll be perceived post F1, with lots of environmental, vegan, fashion projects plus hob nobbing with the rich a famous. You might see him in F1 as a brand ambassador for Merc, and he'll do some demo drives of EV's, but he isn't going to race in the BTCC or anywhere else.Plenty of other successful drivers, Alonso and Button for example, you get the feeling that they have a love for driving racing cars that goes alongside their ambition and career focus. With LH I never get the impression that love is there, achieving his goals and being the best in F1 gives him the financial and personal gratification.
I'd venture a guess he'd never do any motorsport for the sake of it unless he mellows after retirement.
Pericoloso said:
I'd wager 80% of the posters in the F1 forum have no idea what Wookie does on Sundays .
Many also think Croft is a commentator and not a circuit up north .
I don’t think anyone would describe Croft as a commentator. They might use many words, but “commentator” is not one of them.Many also think Croft is a commentator and not a circuit up north .
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