Hamilton's eloquence throughout the years...

[PhilAsia]

Despite continued adversity Lewis just seems to rise above...the latest (now '22 later...'23/'24/'25 etc...) will have moved on since this, my first post. But, believe me, the struggle will continue: https://www.formula1.com/en/latest/article.hamilto...

[cgt2]

Achievements aside he stands as an excellent ambassador for Motorsport. He and Seb are really very decent chaps who are wise beyond their years.

[Tyre Smoke]

I'm no Lewis fan. I don't like his mid Atlantic accent, his dress code or some of the stuff he has said in the past "slums of Stevenage" being one.

But...

I have to say I admire him greatly for what he has stood up for and the class he has shown in the face of hostility and racism. He is a very well mannered gentleman. There are many that could learn some humility from him. And yes, agree, Seb too.

[garythesign]

Tyre Smoke said:

I'm no Lewis fan. I don't like his mid Atlantic accent, his dress code or some of the stuff he has said in the past "slums of Stevenage" being one.

But...

I have to say I admire him greatly for what he has stood up for and the class he has shown in the face of hostility and racism. He is a very well mannered gentleman. There are many that could learn some humility from him. And yes, agree, Seb too.

I have to agree with this.

I wouldn’t like to spend an evening in his company, but have to admire his maturity this year

[PhilAsia]

garythesign said:

Tyre Smoke said:

I'm no Lewis fan. I don't like his mid Atlantic accent, his dress code or some of the stuff he has said in the past "slums of Stevenage" being one.

But...

I have to say I admire him greatly for what he has stood up for and the class he has shown in the face of hostility and racism. He is a very well mannered gentleman. There are many that could learn some humility from him. And yes, agree, Seb too.

I have to agree with this.

I wouldn’t like to spend an evening in his company, but have to admire his maturity this year

Fair points regarding spending time with him. I do not know him well enough to say, but I would think he would have a few interesting stories etc from his time in F1.

[Stealthracer]

I would add that he is the cleanest F1 driver I have ever seen. always gives the other driver room, even when fighting for position.

[Jasandjules]

He just seems like an amazing person, kind with it and still does not seem to have arrogance. You see him stop and speak to the kids all the time etc.

When I saw Massa's behaviour when he lost the WDC to Lewis in Brazil all those years ago I was utterly astonished at what a human he was. Then Lewis did very similar (and his dad) last season in a situation that was far worse.

And he is British too, can't complain really.

[8Ace]

Stealthracer said:

I would add that he is the cleanest F1 driver I have ever seen. always gives the other driver room, even when fighting for position.

Yes, this is what clinches it for me. MSc won 7 titles, and there are so many examples of him driving like a tt or evenly openly cheating. Lewis hasn't needed to do this, but is still the most successful driver of all time.

[8Ace]

Jasandjules said:

He just seems like an amazing person, kind with it and still does not seem to have arrogance. You see him stop and speak to the kids all the time etc.

When I saw Massa's behaviour when he lost the WDC to Lewis in Brazil all those years ago I was utterly astonished at what a human he was. Then Lewis did very similar (and his dad) last season in a situation that was far worse.

And he is British too, can't complain really.

Yes. Compare Verstappens tantrum after Saudi Arabia last year, with the way Hamilton congratulated him after AD.

[Pflanzgarten]

Seb is an interesting one, a wonderful man outside the car but the ability to be a complete cretin behind the wheel.

[48k]

Stealthracer said:

I would add that he is the cleanest F1 driver I have ever seen. always gives the other driver room, even when fighting for position.

Not sure if serious.

[Blink982]

I would say Lewis has been one of the most fair and consistent drivers I’ve ever seen. It has been a pleasure to watch over the years. I can’t believe he has so many haters on bbc HYS, Twitter, YouTube etc.

[Jasandjules]

48k said:

Stealthracer said:

I would add that he is the cleanest F1 driver I have ever seen. always gives the other driver room, even when fighting for position.

Not sure if serious.

I suspect he is, and quite rightly. There are two drivers in recent times that I think every other drivers know will fight fairly no matter what the circumstances. Lewis and Kimi.

[cgt2]

Pflanzgarten said:

Seb is an interesting one, a wonderful man outside the car but the ability to be a complete cretin behind the wheel.

Completely agree though in slight mitigation I would suggest in his Ferrari years frustration was the dominant characteristic, not helped when Charles came along and really put him under the spotlight.

But an absolute top man outside the car for sure.

[48k]

Jasandjules said:

48k said:

Stealthracer said:

I would add that he is the cleanest F1 driver I have ever seen. always gives the other driver room, even when fighting for position.

Not sure if serious.

I suspect he is, and quite rightly. There are two drivers in recent times that I think every other drivers know will fight fairly no matter what the circumstances. Lewis and Kimi.

Lewis has matured in recent years no doubt about it, but to state he's the cleanest driver ever seen and ALWAYS gives the other driver room - well come on that can't be serious. I can only assume someone hasn't seen some of his past battles with the likes of Massa and Alonso and one or two moves he put on Rosberg.

Same with Seb - lovely guy now, and rightly getting a lot of kudos from people, but people seem to forget the multi-21 years and what an utter twunt he has been in his younger years.

I'm sure in ten years time people will be lauding Max for being the cleanest driver ever.

Drivers change and mature but time does funny things to peoples memories.

[Pflanzgarten]

There is no cleaner champion in the modern era. That's not opinion that's fact.

[48k]

Pflanzgarten said:

There is no cleaner champion in the modern era.

The modern era of F1? So since 1950? So Button is a dirty driver? Hill (Damon)?

Come on, I'm a big Hamilton fan but even I can see he's been less than clean at times with the likes of Massa and Alonso and Rosberg. He has matured no doubt and is very careful now but it has not always been the case, that's all I'm saying.

Edited by 48k on Saturday 2nd July 15:50

[Stealthracer]

48k said:

I'm sure in ten years time people will be lauding Max for being the cleanest driver ever.

Not sure if serious.

[48k]

Stealthracer said:

48k said:

I'm sure in ten years time people will be lauding Max for being the cleanest driver ever.

Not sure if serious.

Not sure if understanding sarcasm.

[Pflanzgarten]

48k said:

Pflanzgarten said:

There is no cleaner champion in the modern era.

The modern era of F1? So since 1950? So Button is a dirty driver? Hill (Damon)?

Come on, I'm a big Hamilton fan but even I can see he's been less than clean at times with the likes of Massa and Alonso and Rosberg. He has matured no doubt and is very careful now but it has not always been the case, that's all I'm saying.

Edited by 48k on Saturday 2nd July 15:50

The modern era begins in the 80s with the carbon tubbed cars, or arguably post '94 and the safety drive.

Regardless as clean as Button, Hakkinen (Hill admits he's crashed on purpose before) etc are, Hamilton has been as clean and won infinitely more.

When Hamilton has come across drivers who he has contact with regularly (lets say Massa and Verstappen) it's because they need to adopt a crash or bail attitude in order to beat him.

There's been no cleaner multiple world champion since the days when banging wheels resulted in you getting killed.