Can Britain learn to love Lewis Hamilton?

By Ben Smith

No one can dispute that Lewis Hamilton is a unique talent, a man who is clearly on his way to sporting superstardom. He proved that when he burst onto the scene last season and he showed it again in Brazil last night.

Yet for all his talent, his all-action daring style in the cockpit and that flashing smile, Britain still seems to be in two minds about the man.

There are signs that the adoration of a once spellbound public has waned since he hit the headlines as the kid-made-good from a council house in Stevenage. This morning that image has been replaced by a multi-millionaire Formula One world champion who chooses to live as a tax exile in Switzerland, goes to showbiz parties and dates a Pussycat Doll.

Hamilton's detractors don't see a young driver blessed with prodigious self-belief tempered by a down-to-earth modesty. Instead, they see Hamilton as arrogant, a man who struts around with a sense of entitlement about his place in the sport that is unattractive and unjustified even by his already impressive achievements.

Hamilton is who he is because he is single-minded and utterly dedicated to winning. Some say he is too good to be true, too cool, too smooth and, perhaps, too remote. For all his success some believe that Hamilton has become Formula One’s Marmite: you either love him or you hate him.

Will Britain ever learn to love Lewis Hamilton? Over to you.

Comments

[zenmeister]

I don't think I shall ever love Lewis, but I certainly respect his ability and, yesterday, I admired the way he kept his head in the closing laps when he was under incredible mental pressure. He deserved to win the title, but then so did Felipe, whose dignity in defeat was splendid to see. Motor racing can indeed be very cruel.

[Alasdair Mowat]

I can understand why people don't like Lewis, I assume most of it is jealousy or the fact that they don't support McLaren. Personally I think he is a breath of fresh air for the sport, he is constantly interviewed and is very open to talk about almost anything. ITV have probably interviewed him at 90% of his races so far and he's been very honest about what he's been able to talk about.

There will always be people who dislike him I'm sure, mostly for the fact that he has taken the limelight from other british drivers (like the old 'golden boy' Jenson Button for example).

I'm backing him for another couple of WDC's at least!

[mike]

Well done lewis you were very mature and kept your head now we will see what your made of in the future now you have got the monkey of your back being world champion.

[JulieC]

I find it deeply sad that we haven't taken such a lovely, talented, hard working young man to our hearts. Maybe when we accept that racism is not only a huge part of what Hamilton has had to deal with all his life and is no less present for being covert in the split response to him we will learn to celebrate him properly.

[Dean Rodrigues]

I think if we were in any country that wasn't Britain, this discussion would not be happening. But as we're British, we love to find reasons to dislike people even when there are much better reasons to like them. Equally, when someone ceases to the Underdog that everyone loves, people grow weary... in our British psyche, too much success is just not gravy.

So sure, there will be a fair few Brits who don't like success and thus don't like Lewis. But for me, he is your average lad growing up in a poor part of England with very little in life bar his Dad's love, and he's made a success of himself through sheer determination and self-belief. He is a role-model to all young people, and deserves all the success and benefits it provides - he has earned it through years of hard work and dedication.

[fred]

Personally, I think he's terrific. He's a fearsome competitor with enormous belief (rightly) in his prodigious abilities. He winds the other guys up, he's exciting to watch when he's driving, and he's generous with his time with the fans, as anyone at the Goodwood Festival of Speed will tell you. So what if he wants to live in Switzerland? He's also a little dull. Who cares? I love watching him drive a race car.

[P Jordan]

It is not required that you should love him, but admire and back him for being a talented Briton.

[David]

Any change in the attitude of the British public to Lewis can be fully explained by the appalling positions that our sports journalists take in reporting on our sports stars.

The "half life" of the honeymoon period that any exceptional sportsman gets from our gentlemen of the press is directly proportionate to their lack of success.

Lewis got three GPs before the whining started. The next six consecutive podium finishes barely got a mention. Contrast and compare the tenth GP when he failed to achieve what they had come to demand.

Jensen was the previous example in F1, he didn't achieve the same level of whining until towards the end of his first season.

Just in case anyone believes I am exaggerating just read Kevin Eason's article on page 70 of today's Times.

On the day the rest of the country is celebrating Lewis's absolutely fabulous achievements since the beginning of last season, Eason is fully in whine mode.

Apparently Lewis is not allowed to have a girl friend. He is not permitted to live abroad for tax reasons in spite of the fact that all the other F1 drivers are forced to do the same. He is criticised for partying (albeit teetotal partying). He spends too much time with his family and not enough time flattering the inflated egos of the press. He is supposed to have lost his relationship with Ron Dennis due to his "distant" behaviour. I heard Ron being interviewed yesterday, as we all know Ron is a normally reticient man, and he could not have been more delighted at Lewis's and the Team's success. Their body language together after the race could not have been more expressive of the strength of their relationship.

Ben it is not the public who are going off Lewis it is the Sports Press. If the criticism reaches such a pitch and the whining is on every radio station, on every TV channel and in every paper, people who get their information from these sources begin the believe the veracity of the manufactured rubbish.

I understand that good news is said to be useless for selling papers but there must be a sensible compromise somewhere. Ed please get your colleagues to pull themselves together and to take some pleasure in the successes of our sports people. (How about Paula Ratcliffe winning her third NY Marathon, for example, which barely got a mention.)

I know I am whistling into the wind because we have got the press we deserve. Maybe it is up to the public to start switching off and cancelling newspapers a little more readily.

[Fritz Bertram]

You Brits are experiencing the same phenomenon we witnessed in Germany some 14 years ago.
From an outward point of view it is much easier to estimate - or even to "love" - a driver.
Media overkill can pretty much ruin anyone's sympathy, be it for Schu or for Lewis.

[A Parker]

I am constantly dismayed and surprised by the vicious comments written on blogs and forums about Lewis. They are equally matched by comments brimming with praise and awe for the man, but this confirms your assessment of him being a Marmite man. I must say, the negative comments are more often than not from rival supporters, mainly Ferrari and Alonso’s, or people who are racist, or people who are ignorant. I think some British people do not trust a man who is clean cut, teetotal, polite, sweet, gentle, kind, confident, and charming. Maybe it says more about us than about Lewis, that we cannot believe that he is such a nice person. I think I am a pretty moral person, and have very nice friends and family, so it doesn’t unnerve me to see someone as nice as him – I can believe full well he is as nice as he seems. Is he Hell arrogant – he has self-belief which has brought him to where he is. He had a dream from when he was 8 years old, and has worked with his family and team to realise it. I cannot believe his countrymen would resent that and not appreciate it. It surely reflects the laziness and nastiness of our nation that we cannot be pleased on behalf of someone who has worked to achieve something and been determined and decent along the way. His close loving family should be a beacon of inspiration to everyone; instead they are vilified and abused on the internet. Maybe some British people expect a black man to be womanising and roasting the latest WAG while drinking an armful of booze while falling out of Chinawhite’s nightclub, instead of partying with his beautiful, equally successful girlfriend and loving family.

I feel sorry for those who don’t admire him and cannot see what a star he is. I very much doubt he will win the BBC SPOTY as he was a favourite last year, and still lost. I don’t care though, and I doubt he does either. If, as some say, his unpopularity makes him lose sponsorship deals, I really don’t think he cares two hoots. He is a millionaire anyway, and has a charmed life. He seems to almost laugh when people criticise him because he can see how stupid and jealous they are and swears he’ll never change. Anyway, he is criticised for being too corporate and simultaneously criticised for not attracting sponsorship, so either way he can’t win.

It seems that those who know him best really adore him, his team, his family, his friends, his boss and his fans. Really, who cares if no-one else does, if bitter haters and racists and jealous buffoons rant and rave about him on the internet. Hey, Lewis has achieved his lifelong dream, he has a woman of his dreams, he has fans who absolutely love him and he has a decent pure hearted family. The haters will never have those things so they can stew in their own poisonous juice for all I care or Lewis cares.

Most people I know seem to think he is smashing from what they’ve seen of him. Maybe I just know nice people, but I can say with absolute certainty, I wouldn’t want to know some of the people who slag him off and lie about him in order to justify their warped view of him. As an example, only last week there were unconfirmed rumours from a “Finnish” newspaper that Heikki was unhappy at McLaren and resentful of Lewis. The internet was awash with outrage and disgust at McLaren and Lewis. At the Brazil GP, Heikki denied these reports; his denial was met with silence. I think Heikki looked over the moon for Lewis on Sunday – hardly a man unhappy with his team but the haters will put out any nasty, vindictive story to justify their loathing.

Lewis, you are great and I know you will not change your character. I hope to see him in Oxford Street on Friday – there are rumours he will be in the Vodafone store to launch the new Blackberry Storm. Methinks it will be a riot!

Here’s to the 2008 WDC and to many more!

[David]

Why is liking or loving him so important? Most of us will never meet him, but from what I have seen he is polite, family oriented, very driven to succeed and a thoroughly decent individual. I'm sure if asked he would settle for respect rather than adoration, which I think he certainly deserves. Good luck to him if he's dating a beautiful woman, who wouldn't given the chance.

[Nigel Taylor]

I`m sick of hearing bad things said about Lewis,he is now WORLD CHAMPION.Its all jealousy,how long have we been hearing that you can not overtake in F1,what has Lewis done for the last two year`s ?,OVERTAKE, certain drivers hate this.
Well done Lewis,you are WORLD CHAMPION,take a break mate, you deserve it.

[Pau]

Is this question relevant? I mean ... does he care? Nope he is WDC, some people will like him, so won't, so what.

I do like his girlfriend a lot, though!

[Xeron]

There is not discussion here, I never met anybody in the uk that doesn't like Lewis.

[Érico]

They should, because you can teach humility if it ever becomes necessary, but you cannot squeeze talent and geniality into someone.

[Martin]

My top three teams in F1 are McClaren, Williams and BMW. My top three team bosses are Ron Dennis, Frank Williams and Ken Tyrrell. Will Lewis ever be in my top 3 drivers? No. There's something about the guy that overshadows his talent and makes him unlikeable - the Gordon Brown factor kicks in. I honestly think Massa deserved the win this year - he's walked a harder path and he lost by only one point, despite having to compete with a Champion winning team mate for most of the year too. And to JulieC - it's wholly offensive and inappropriate to accuse people of racism just because they don't like someone's personality.

[Jon]

I kind of feel about Lewis the way that someone else said about George Bush: 'born on third, and thinks he hit a triple'.

He's had it very easy in Formula One so far. Alonso, Kimi and Massa all spent years working their way up from the smallest teams. Lewis got the best drive from the start, and was favoured within the team to boot - no wonder his win percentage towers over all the others! The adulation ('Can Lewis be as good as Schumacher?' Come on!) and the persecution narrative are very off-putting. It makes it hard to wish him well - you end up wanting him to fail so that the silliness will stop.

Which isn't to put his achievements down - a world championship is a terrific achievement, and he has had some very good wins too. But it's not clear that he's any better than Massa or Kimi, and possibly Kubica or Vettel, and it is clear that he isn't as good as Alonso - those dominant wins in a below-average car are certainly the standout performances of the season

[JS]

Like Marmite - what is not to like? - he is British, maybe a pity he doesn't live here, but he is WDC and has won it as a Brit, surely we should support him and be proud of his achievement.
Good year on the blog Ed, thank you.

[Simon]

Here’s a thing, I didn’t realize I don’t like Hamilton until Vettel overtook him. Up until that point, all through the season I’d thought I was broadly pro Hamilton. But that move brought it all out. I leapt up and cheered!

It was a big contrast to last year when I backed him all season long! So what has gone wrong? Among the biggest reasons for my detachment from Lewis Hamilton is the fact he expects the support of British fans, but has clearly turned his back on Britain. His helmet sports the colours of not the Union Jack but the flag of his grandparent’s Grenada! Where? You thought he was born and raised in Stevenage. Me too but not him apparently. At least David Coulthard was justified in flying the Scottish flag.

Then there’s the fact this gazzilionaire bolted Britain last year to ensure none of his millions went back to Britain in taxes, the country which raised and schooled him, and which gave his Dad a fresh start in life. The gnomes of Switzerland – hardly a cash strapped country – rather than Britain’s NHS now receive the benefit of Hamilton’s taxes.

On top of this he’s over managed, over PR’rd, over arrogant, and obsessed with appearing “cool”. Tony Jardine says he’s not arrogant, well clearly Jardine has missed those posed newspaper pictures of him staring down his nose in Boss or what have you at the readers. They reek of entitlement, elitism, and arrogance. Hamilton would do well to remember that in Britain we don’t do “worship me because I command it” type stuff.

Factor in his ill judged reference after the Chinese GP to having the support of God and is it any wonder I and many others struggle to like the guy.

Hamilton is clearly talented, has phenomenal car control, and is very brave. All things I admire. But until he cuts the arrogant stance and discovers the Union jack, I for one won’t support him.

[Chris]

Love Louis Hamilton? Why should I love any sportsman? Most people I know couldn't give a toss who won F1, FA Cup or any other sporting event for that matter and to generalise with Britain??!!

[Pauline]

Lewis Hamilton, got a easy win don't let me laugh. Lewis Hamilton, really won in China unashamely Massa accepted Lewis win in Belgium. Lewis have no friends in F1 what I saw was every driver was helping Massa. But God was on Lewis side. I never met anyone in Britain that doesn't like Lewis. I don't like his girlfriend but that another issue.

The real results
Lewis 102 points Belgium

Massa 93 Points Belgium

[Pete]

To me it's evident that the vitriol aimed at this brilliant fellow is of two different types from 2 factions:
1. The British. They love the plucky bumbling underdog so long as he never attains the goal. Here is a young man, who is a winner. everything about him says winner and he comports himself accordingly. Somehow, this is anathema to a good proportion of the British psyche. They will do all they can to subsequently tear down a symbol of success, particularly one that so obviously and shamelessly tries to be successful and guess what, is succeeeding at it. Some of the british press comes to mind and they obviously have a constituency to consume their vitriol.
2. Moving further along the scale to the bottom we have the run of the mill ignoramus who cannot understand that such talent exists in someone that doesn't look like them. Who is this uppity kid and who does he think he is anyway? This one is easy to spot, a rabid insistence that Lewis is only good because of the car ignoring the fact that mclaren has had kimi, jp montoya, kovaleinen, dela rosa, coulthard, alonso etc in the same seat but only one world champion since mika hakkinen. Over the last 2 years, this kid has taken on and trounced all comers. He beat a reigning world champion in the same car as a rookie, he has fought the stewards and the whiners on the grid as has emerged victorious.

Keep grabbing at straws: "kimi is a better driver i swear, no alonso is, no kubica is the class of the field, no wait vettel is the best driver on the track." My 2 cents? Lewis Hamilton is the world champion, the talent of the field and will continue to show the grid the shortest, fastest line around the race track.

[Janet Ronld]

"Simon"
All F1 drivers live in either Switzerland or Monaco, as for him wearing his grandparents flag colours. That isn't true, Lewis alway wear Yellow, so that his father would see him. It's use to be all Yellow. As for the Union Jack doesn't Jenson button wear that helmet? I can imagine Lewis wearing the union Jack and people like you bad mouthing him. I don't worship Lewis Hamilton, but I think he a great for Great Britain and the world. He very warm and seem like a very down to earth young man. I also don't like his girlfriend I am American by the way. I don't think Lewis, care or think about race, he half black and half white his girlfriend (very untalented and a joke over here in the USA) is Asian her album over here is currently number 69 after 2 weeks. Lewis can do much better then pussy cat doll.

[Janet Ronld]

"Simon"
Britain’s NHS, what about Jenson and David both live in Monaco for years? But this doesn't seem to bother you I wonder why? Eh eh Is it's that Lewis is coping his follow Brits? Talk about two face.

[jr]

Love? what's love? I think you over use this word. I like Fernando Alonso, but I don't love him, that's for his wife, his family and a few teenage girls with their hormones all over the place.

[Nick]

What is it about the English: always waiting and hoping for a sporting success and when we get one, we moan and whine that they are arrogant or single-minded or whatever. You don't get to be the F1 Champ without being determined and believing in what you do. Stop whining and celebrate a winner for goodness sake!

[petehand]

I think Jac Villneve (not spelt right) summed it up best:

"you have enough people telling you that you are the best ever, pretty soon you start believing it yourself"

[Michael Grinks]

A couple of things bother me about this attempt to make a scoundrel/saint out of Louis Hamilton.

First of all, why is it always mentioned that he now lives in Switzerland to avoid excessive taxes? He is hardly the first to do it. This kind of thing has been going on for years. So getting on him for this is just being critical for the sake of being critical.

Secondly, the notion that he is just a ordinary guy is absurd. He has a gift that goes beyond just being talented, a once in a generation ability. He is competing at a level very, very few can ever think about, and he is being very successful. He makes money that none of us can even imagine. The only thing normal about him is that he has a girlfriend, and even that seems to annoy some people.

Thirdly, what's the point of asking if he will be another Senna or Schumacher ? At that level you don't compare. These are towering figures and to try and determine who is the better is pointless. They are what they are and don't need any further justification. Hamilton has the ability to get there. Obviously, time will tell how his career plays out but at the moment he looks set to be one of the best.

As for his strutting and sense of entitlement, I've seen little of that. Perhaps it exists outside of his PR persona. It is hard to imagine anyone competes at this level that doesn't manifest some of this in some way. As I've said before, this is almost a survival skill in this sport. Perhaps he over does it a bit but then remember Alonso threatening blackmail to get his way or any number of Shumacher's antics over the years. I think he can be forgiven if he seems a little impressed with himself. He'll probably grow out of it anyway.

Why is it necessary to love or hate him? What appeals to us about race car drivers is the sense of the heroic that they give us. To challenge themselves to succeed in such a dangerous and demanding sport and then to do it with a flair of genius satisfies our desire to taste a little vicarious glory and escape for a couple of hours from the drone of routine that makes up so much of life. Whether are saints or sinners is irrelevant.

[Hugo]

I am not English, I am American. Mexican-American to be exact. And I completely love this young man for his talent, class and professionalism. How can you criticize him for living as a tax exile in Switzerland when all Formula One drivers do so. If Brits don't want Lewis to live in tax exile, change European Union laws and remove Switzerland's protections from taxation.
I think Lewis is a fine young man and he is handling himself with dignity.

[JJ]

What rubbish to dislike Lewis, he has has shown nothing but respect to the public and the media, so he hasa so he choses to live where he doesn't pay tax his not the first or the last to make this move and so what he has a pop star g.f. He drove the drive of his life instead of celebrating his triumph once again Britan gets into disliking merely a day aftering winning and putting Britain firmly back on the map as far as sport is concerned. I love Lewis for all the right reason and i will not stop liking him and Britian needs to stop wanting to hate its own home grown talent. His young and deserves to be arrogant in a sport where winning is always first and second best is mentioned, its the arrogant drive that has gotten him where he is and its what separates us who dream and those who just do it.

[A Parker]

Pete, I loved your post! Well said.

[A Parker]

This 'Daily Mail' article sums it up completely. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/article-1082803/A-galaxy-talent-star-shines-brightest.html

[teamwork-toronto-ON]

Well, from my experience, as a McLaren fan for many years, i know Lewis since 1998, therefore is not that we like him, but we know him and learned to admire him for who he is!

For the whole world he is a new face, for me he is not!
Therefore, and i'm not the only one, we believe in him, like him, trust him and support him.

Very proud of McLaren in general!
(now that jpm and alonso are out!)

[helen]

I'm not a Hamilton fan and was fed up of the 'Lewis Hamilton Show' ITV seemed to think we all need every race weekend - I like to hear about other teams and drivers too! I can't deny the lad is a very talented driver, but I really resent the way that it's assumed that people that don't like him because of his colour, I couldn't care less what colour he is, I'm not supporting him just cos he's British, neither am I not supporting him cos he's black, I don't support him simply because there'sother drivers I prefer. But I'm also getting annoyed with the total family day out thing that seems to be happening more and more. I really don't care during the race what a drivers dad/brother/sister/mother/grandmother is doing!!

[Mike]

All of his decisions - to date a Pussycat Doll, to dedicate himself to something he loves and to live as a tax exile - are ones we would make ourselves if we had the chance. I certainly cheered for him as he overtook Glock on Sunday, and I will cheer louder next season to drown out the jealousy and pettiness that originates from our press and has seeped into the pathetic end of our society.

[Ben K]

Great guy in good times, admirable attitude in bad times. As his dad states, "everything that is thrown at us, it's just huge positive energy. It's like fuel". Well planted, way to go, and brilliantly deserved.

[LewisNo1]

I'm also english and I wish I could live in Monaco. I love, admire, adore Lewis.

Brave Lewis, the warrior (hardly fought battle against Alonso and FIA! - and you beat them). Bring our glorious Empire days back to us.

Europe rest in peace. Alonso, rest in peace. England here we come!

[Neville Pluck]

This is abssolutely preposperous....as an expat living and working in Germany I can clearly say that if Leweis were German he would be heralded a superstar and no one would be ridculing him. He has all the aspirations of an individual who wants to be successful, and can you blame some one with such a humble background????......Lets hope he does not surpass Scumacher's record That would be too much for the British public to bear....It is a crying shame that we do not have more individuals albeit sport or in the professional sector that can live up to Lewis's achievement. Our economy would certainly be better than what it is today

[John Porter]

lewis should step down from his egomaniac trip. a guy who authorises an autobiagraphy aged 22 has serious problems.

we will always hava a resonable doubt wetheir timo glock let him through. it is definately extremely suspicious.

[John]

You, the written media are out of control. One of our most promising talents has just fulifilled his potential. He is 23 for goodness sake and you are knocking him. This article is just inviting negative people out there to stick the boot in and you should have more sense. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

[Reg Tripp]

It's just a fact of life. You can't like everyone, your critical judgement would be warped if you did. Some people you like some you don't, that's what humans do. One reason we don't like Lewis Hamilton is perhaps because he is just too perfect, a bit like Andy Murray. We like people with flaws such as Nigel Mansell, Kate Moss even Winston Churchill.
If Hamilton and Murray were caught with their trousers down so to speak we would like them more.

[Sef]

You can always count on the British press to build someone or thing up just to knock it down. No wonder he left Blighty for saner pastures. You in the press are sick..Get a life

[John]

Judging from this site, you Brits come across as being quite bitter, unhappy, resentful, very jealous, unappreciative that Hamilton won the WDC over 18 other drivers from many nations. Many of you nit pik that he started his career with a good team, and actually resent his success at becoming the WDC in just 2 seasons.

I think Vodafone Mclaren Mercedes was lucky to sign him, and I bet they don't feel like most of you.

Some speak down on his council flat origin as though they were born with silver spoons in their mouths. Do you really feel that your skin colour makes you superior to him or those of his race.

Many observers have commented that you Brits are quite prejudiced against Hamilton due to his colour. Why on earth would you complain about Spain. They seem to be more ignorant than racists, simply because they are unable to recognize their short comings, but you Brits are racists with your eyes wide open.

What a sad revelation!

[Dominic]

A great talent who has achieved something truely great this season. Will he ever be as loved as much as David Beckham? I doubt it. I too, am one of those people that struggle to like the guy - i cant even put my finger on it to explain why. Am i jealous of a young, good-looking, highly talented and successful individual, that just so happens have a pussy-cat-doll hanging from his arm? Probabley :)

[Gerry]

Lewis could and should have now been twice world champion in his first two seasons. I have no doubt in my mind that he will now be an even more complete champion and go forward with an even higher level of confidence.

We must remember that the lad is only 23 years old! How do you handle yourself with maturity under extreme pressure when you have such little experience? This will come too.
Remember the flawed brilliance of Senna and Schumacher's characters.

Our Nige was loved more for his driving skills than his abilities out of the car.

Lewis Hamilton has the potential to be one of the greatest sportsmen that this country has ever produced and that will be thoroughly respected at sometime

[EBarber]

I was boarding a plane just as someone announced that Lewis Hamilton had won, having been notified via his mobile phone. The resulting cheer, which rolled back down the plane, should put Lewis's mind at rest - nobody hated him, we were all proud that he was British and we loved him.

Go Hamilton - do it again!

[Caroline]

This is so typical of this country. We've got a genuine humble honest gifted superstar on our hands, and what do we do? Hound him, villify him, criticise him, and then turn around and call him a traitor for leaving the country to get away from it. If I was receiving this much stick from the press and the public, you bet I'd up and leave. Does it mean I'm ashamed to be British? Well, if this is what it means to be British, then yes. Lewis Hamilton has done nothing wrong, except be successful and live his dream. And this country is so mired in its post-colonial 'woe is me' underdog stance that we can't stand that. Good luck to you, Lewis. Let this be the first of many and ignore these ignorant doom-mongers, who are just peddling jealousy and resentment. Good luck to you!

[Ryan]

It seems it's ok to criticise Private Equity and City types who move offshore for tax reasons, after first benefiting from society here, but if we say the same about Lewis we're "sick", "pathetic" or "racist" (according to various posts above). I see him in exactly the same way as any other type of successful capitalist and find it insulting that this is considered "racist".

And why didn't he drape himself in a Swiss flag after the race?

[lambert]

Why dislike Lewis Hamilton if not for jealousy and for the colour of his skin? To that unintellectual comment about why Lewis released his autobiography aged 22, why is that a great deal? Each one of us has their own biography but most of us have no means to put it into writing and available to the public! Remember Lewis had means to do it and on top of that he is a public person! Please, let us be sensible and leave Lewis alone. Instead of all the unfounded negativities, let us learn to appreciate talent and dedication and be proud for this countryma, Lewis. God bless him, his family and Mclaren always

[Al_Scotland]

For me this is simple situation.

This is not about race, this is about two things, about class and about attitude.

Here are my interpretations. Lewis Hamilton is from a working class background. There is a feeling that he came out of the common masses, and his retreat to the Alps is an affront to the british taxpayer, who believe he should conribute back to the nation which gave him the chance to succeed. This comes from a misguided view that we, the people, somehow contributed to his success. The same feelings dont exist for Button or Coulthard, who at least appear to be from a higher class or from a privelaged background, and who both also chose the tax exile status once in F1. There was no outcry when DC went to Monaco. Most people probably thought he already lived in a place like this. Hamilton is from Stevenage, his dad is a railwayman. Personally I dont think I contributed at all to Hamiltons success, and he has every right to live wherever he likes. The baying masses do not share this opinion. There is no question of colour being involved, unless you consider that Hamilton does not fit the standard "profile" for a coloured sportsman. Like Lennox Lewis before him he appears educated, well spoken, intelligent and driven. He appears to want success for himself, like Lennox. More loved sports heros like Nigel Benn, Ian Wright or Frank Bruno, fit the profile much more for someone who is fighting for a nation, fueled by pride and anger. Maybe the self assured nature of Lewis does not play well with this stereotype. But the same cannot be said for Tiger Woods, who is in a similar position, but much more liked and respected. So I would say it is not a colour issue, but more a feeling that working class people should not move up, should not lose their accent, or buy nice things and have glamourous girlfriends. Barry sheene and James Hunt were national heros still to this day. Fag smoking, beer swilling, cockney womaniser playboys, much more in tune with the baying mob. Mansell was also more popular, brobably because he was old with a big bushy moustache. In reality I think Mansell further from the common man than Lewis, but the opposite is percieved. There is also the fact that Lewis is so so young, and he comes across as boyish and immature. Thats because he is, he is just a youth really. Maybe people would like to see him worked a little harder before the riches came. Like our lovely footballers, who are already on 10k a week before they make the 1st team, there is a resentment about the wealth these young sportsmen create before they have really won anything. Previous generations made buttons from sport, as we can see by players selling medals and trophies to pay the bills.

Time will be kind to Lewis, he will become more liked as he matures, but it will be a rocky road, and I for one, hopes he keeps away from the Gutter press, keeps his nose clean and gets focussed on the driving. For me there is already to much circus in the McL garage, and he shold keep his family out from now on and focus on developing himself as a mature individual, rather than daddies puppet, which is how many see him with his fathers face constantly on the TV and hanging about. In shor, Antony Hamilton, leave him alone and let him mature.

[Iain]

I cant stand the boy, and i dont really care about his dad and brother and girlfriend. Compare his manner to that of Chris Hoy... both world beaters. Hoy is a genuine character. The other point that grates on me is how people can say with utter conviction that Hamilton is the best talent around. Why? Motor sport is so expensive to get involved in, that there is a smaller talent pool than rugby/football/tennis etc... so you could argue that it is easier for the cream to rise to the top. Plus the fact that he is in the best car. I dont like the guy and im pleased other people can see it as well. The fact that the majority of the other teams, not just their drivers, dont care for him says alot. And it would be foolish to brand them all racist or jelous. Maybe hes not that likeable...

[David]

Ryan, I read your post with total disbelief! Can't you see the difference between short selling City types, whose success depends on destroying our economy, and Lewis who has worked all his life to develop his God given talents to the benefit of Great Britain.

Lewis is supreme in his sphere through his own efforts. He is bringing huge credit and wealth to this country.

If only we could clone him.

[Timothy Crewe]

congrats lewis, i for one live and work in botswana, Afria, i am a mclaren fan, but thats not the reason i like lewis, i like the man because, his made us here in africa want to watch f1, they said overtaking was almost impossible, lewis has done that in dry and wet conditions, and at corners in wet weather, where only schumi could overtake, definately the most exciting driver to come along since schumi, he still has a long way to go to be compared with the likes of schumi and senna, but his put the first building blocks, i dont care who he drives for, i think he would still be exciting to watch. on gran prix days, we all gather around at someones house and watch the race, and we all support different teams, but at the end of the race, we all congratulate the winning team. Idont know if some of you guys out there are watching f1 with passion as true fans, or you are just like the stewards, who only watch to critisize, hate and to put the next man down, congrats also to massa, raikonen, and the rest of the f1 drivers.Raikonen as wellis a very exciting driver, who knows, maybe this time next year we will be congratulating massa, but for now, lewis, keep your head up, hold your chest out and handle.
Tim

[Peter Clarke]

Hamilton is under the same microscope as premier league footballers. Lots of cash and privilage therefore not worthy, despite the talent.
Mansell was seen as typical UK hero, working his way up from nothing by himself - the hard way. Hamilton by contrast has had one of richest men behind him since he was 10 and got that chance because of his dads sarifices and obsession with creating a formula one champion. Yes he is talented, yes he is good but his life has been managed by others to this moment. UK popoulation tend to like accidental heros not manufactured ones. Hence the admiration but some bitterness as well.
Tax move was a bad publicity accident waiting to happen, especially after earlier emphasis of poor background - just like Rooney and his millions squandered on the wefdding / ok magazine lifestyle.

[H]

Honestly, what is this rubbish about him not being British any more because he doesn't live here? I could move to France tomorrow but that wouldn't make me French, are you all complaining about the ex pats flooding the Costa del Sol too? Of course he's still British and not Swiss! Nobody has to love the man (be a bit weird since none of you have never met him, though that doesn't stop the character assassinations either), but I find it unbelievable that such a huge achievement from such a young man and so early in his career is actually being criticised. Lewis's only crime appears to be wanting to excel at his sport and displaying the determination and drive necessary to do it. This is a great sporting result to end what was already a great Olympic year, what is there to complain about? People moan that the British never win anything and then moan when somebody actually comes through as a champion!

[Laurence James]

I'm guessing there is a simple equation for people who don't like Lewis, it goes like this:

Jealousy + racism = hate Hamilton

I for one think he's great for F1, great for Britain, great for his team, great for his family and great as a role model.

Come on Britain, let's get behind Lewis as the youngest F1 Champion ever! Well done Lewis and may many more titles come your way!

[David Jones]

Superb. What a champion and what a well mannered, well spoken and generally nice bloke he seems to be.
Has any other F1 driver ever had to endure the personal insults and blatant cheating by the governing body as Lewis Hamilton has? I think not!
Great champion for F1 and a great ambassador for the United Kingdom and England.

[Piers , London]

I think its shocking how Britain is behaving towards are new upcoming stars , like Hamilton and Murray. They are born winners but Britain has always had this looser mentality, cheering on the looser for trying hard and giving it all. At long long last we have two winners especially Hamilton and fingers crossed Murray soon to follow. These stars are not arrogant, they just belief they can win and they are always polite and friendly during interviews, If it had been oversees stars we would just call the flamboyant and classy.

[Deebee]

Congratulations to a BRITISH WORLD CHAMPION. I don't care what colour his skin is. I don't read newspapers as all they throw at us is a one sided view (their sided) and a twisted on at that.

Lewis has had an amazing F1 career so far. It is true that we have been "trained" in Britain to hate a winner. I cheered when he managed to get 5th spot back on the last lap. My fingernails will take a while to recover. My admiration for the battle between Felipe and Lewis grew more and more, and the passion shown by Felipe was memorable. Either of those guys deserved the Championship, but obviously I am delighted it came Lewis way.

C'mon Brits. Let's get behind a British Champion. We have had a reasonably good sports year with our Olympic teams, and now this. We should celebrate our sporting stars (I don't like using heroes, as that should be used for real heroes like our military). Lets get back to being a country that supports its successes, and its armed forces.

[Tom Cawley]

I was playing at Ronnie Scott's jazz club in London last night and dedicated every single tune we played to Lewis. Every time the dedication was met with a roar of approval. (Apart from when we played 'Blame It On My Youth', which I dedicated to his first corner in Japan...)

Every person I've spoken to about it has been thrilled and excited, as well they might be.

[Jamal Ali]

I dont think Lewis Hamilton will ever be loved in this country. Just like Andy Murray will never be loved. And just like Amir Khan will never be loved. Just like David Beckham was never loved. One thing they all have in common is their strong family values and thats what keeps them going despite all the hatred and jealousy. If only the big time charlies of the England football team had the same mentality they'd do a lot better.

Congrats to Lewis though. Now he's won his first Championship I think he'll be untouchable. Not as much pressure so he can now enjoy himself a bit more on the track. Ths other drivers are going to have step up a level to keep up.

[Max K]

There's a reason for this disparity in opinion. Those of us who are less than perfect and have no ambition to improve our lives tend to dislike Hamilton. Whereas those of us who are prepared to work hard to live a life worth living seem to admire Lewis and see him as an inspiration.

Also, he may be young for an autobiog but he's done a hell of a lot for his age and a lot of people would like to read about it. You don't have to be dying before writing a book about your life.

[Max K]

He's also got a black belt in Karate. Guess the only bad thing about him is he's friends with 'hanger-on' P-Diddy, who was the one who introduced him to his current gf.
The best thing for unappreciative Britain is if Lewis made the transition from being a British sporting hero to a World Racing Icon. Our little island doesn't really deserve him.

[Francisco]

Ed, I do not mind whether you publish this post or not. I just want to ask you to moderate this blog and do not allow any pranks directed to embarrass Spanish F1 fans in the way javiervivaespania did. I have been reading the blog ever since Sunday I have the feeling that the guy writing under the name LewisNo1 is the same cynical brat who wrote under the name of javiervivaespania. Please do not allow this. Thanks and regards.

[Matthew, Leeds]

They hate you if you're clever, and they despise a fool.

Good Luck Lewis lad. Keep Winning.

[Martin]

Lewis has worked hard to get where he is today and fair play to himn and congratulations. As a Brit I am proud that a British Driver in a British Team is WDC. As for being a tax exile who blames him, if I had his money I would be off too, that is modern life. Coulthard lives in Monaco, no one gives him hassle. The Beckhams have never achieved anything on the global stage and live in different countries and yet people worship them, Why ?
Well done Lewis, proud to be British.

[Pandora]

I am not British and I am so proud of Lewis. What is not to like about Lewis? Is it because of his race? If that is the reason than it is sad?

I do not like Michael Schumacher one bit but who cares? He is 7 times WDC. So, Lewis probably doesn't care if you hate him or love him.

I am so very happy that Lewis won the WDC and most deservingly. I feel vindicated after a season of unfair calls. It is obvious that Ferrari & Massa had FIA's help. For me, Lewis has more wins than Massa. Massa was given one of Lewis' win by FIA. Lewis came into F1 and dominated. I guess many people cannot handle that. To be fair to Massa, I muST say that Massa is a good driver too. He must be to have won 5 races this season.

Lewis Hamilton & Team Mclaren, I congratulate you. I admire your dignity in handling all the ***** that FIA gave you. I would like to make a toast, that you have many, many more wins.

Pandora
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

[Simon, Cheltenham]

Hamilton is an incredibly talented, down to earth, charming and polite individual and is clearly deserving of winning the World Championship.

However, at the moment I don't really feel any "love" for him. It's not because I'm jealous of him nor am I a racist and I certainly don't prefer "the plucky underdog". My reason for not loving him is simply his seeming lack of personality.

Sport is entertainment and while the lad can certainly drive a car better than most I still don't feel entertained when I watch him. He's just a little bland. I want to be entertained and for me that means I'd rather watch drivers like Alonso or Montoya or Villeneuve who have larger-than-life characters and are likely to self-destruct at various points in a season/race/career.

Perhaps Louis will develop this as he gets older and starts to shake of his father's vice-like grip but even if he doesn't then fair play, he's a great driver, am I really required to love him too?

[Dennis]

I am not British but lived a long time in the UK and worked (and still work) in motorracing.
First of all I like to say that a lot of Brits are racist hypocrites; since Lewis appearance in F1 I've heard to many Brits say; "great driver, shame he is black "!
I have known about Lewis since his karting days and he has always shown his incredible talent; however I have never forgiven him his "monkeys at the back" remark, referring to guys in cars of teams with less than half the budget of McLaren

[Kris]

How can Britain dislike him after all he has achieved?The question itself is irrelevant infact I feel Britain should adore him

Lewis is a gifted driver,his driving is a visual treat.He surely will achieve lots of glory before he retires

Three cheers to you Lewis Hamilton Hip Hip Hurray.All the best for F1 2009

[Noor]

I'm sorry but i am fed up of this constant racist argument for not liking Hamilton. How can anyone here label someone else a racist without knowing them or thier reason for disliking him. If a black person said he didnt like a white racing driver would the same people be caling him a racist?

On another point i am curious as to how many of these Hamilton fans were around before joined formula 1.

i don't dislike hamilton because of his race. I dislike his swagger and disrespect for other drivers on the circuit. I also believe there are more talented drivers on the circuit who have, or are currently playing their way from the bottom, the way it should be done

[Evonne O]

I am British. I am also Black but I will never love Lewis.

[Bruce Clark]

He is a fantastic driver, but until he moves back to the UK and starts to pay tax here, I don't see why we should celebrate.

[CHIUNDA]

SIMON

"n Britain we don’t do “worship me because I command it” type stuff." - Clearly you didn't think before you made this statement - it happens that the UK has a Royal Family and a Queen whose function nobody in the UK itself can explain or justify - how is that for a "worship me because i command it" culture?

[Sarah]

Why is it that people in this country (goaded by the media) are utterly incapable of getting behind our sporting stars and going all out to support them. All we seem to do is look for reasons to despise them and cut them down, especially when they're successful.

In my opinion - not that this should make an iota of difference - Lewis seems like a very mild mannered, respectful and gentle young man who quite a few footballers (who are frequently put up as role models and 'heroes' despite beating seven bells out of fellow humans and making porn videos!) could learn a thing or two from!

WELL DONE Lewis, MOST of us are EXTREMELY proud and VERY happy for you!!

[Damien Karass]

Sounds like this headline belongs on a teenage girls' mag.
His ethnic origins and country of residence are surely irrelevant his personal earnings are anyway a small part of the revenue he creates. In another article here in Times Online he is described as famous (!?), you see its the press causing all the hype, but its the same guy who forced Kimi R of the track in Shanghai and only passed Glock in Brazil because he skidded and that after Vettel had already passed him. I don't love or hate LH but what about all the other guys who thrill us. What about Alonso's and Vettel's performance not to speak of poor old David C which actually no one seems to do.

[Nigel]

I think a significant reason why some British fans don't adore Lewis Hamilton in the way they did Hunt, Mansell and Hill, is due to racism. In my local pub on Sunday, I heard at least three people say they didn't want him to win "because he's black". I believe that latent racism is alive and kicking throughout the UK and when these people criticise him I think they often rationalise (or conceal) the real reasons for their dislike with comments about arrogance, celebrity parties and tax exile status. By the way, I am not a rabid Hamilton fan. In fact, I was happy to see Raikkonen win last year, as I thought, on balance, he deserved a world title. Nevertheless, I think Lewis's championship win was thoroughly deserved this year. There's no question that he's a fantastic racing driver, who has reintroduced the art of "racing" into Formula 1. Perhaps we should also be debating Alonso's spectacular churlishness in the run up to the Brazilian GP. In all the years I've followed the sport, I've never heard a driver openly admit that he would help one driver at the expense of another, when neither are his team mate.

[Tony]

Not all Brits will love Lewis but no-one is universally loved. All I can say is that I think he is great for GB, great for F1 and a wonderful role model for all youngsters, whatever their class, race, creed or colour.
If there is any justice in this world, he will one day prove his critics and doubters wrong - just as he did in the last 2 races of this year when he showed that he could rise above all of the abuse directed towards him, the crazy penalties levied by Mosley's FIA and the envy/hatred of some of his fellow drivers.
Go for it, Lewis. You are a deserved WDC and you have the potential to be an all time great, just like your hero and my old friend, Ayrton Senna.

[gary]

He did an outstanding job to win the championship. There were the racists taunts, FIA ruling against him and not applying the same rules to Massa and a drivers conspiracy to help Massa win. That's more than enough to shake anyone's equilibrium. But he kept his cool and defied them all. The UK has a happy ace.

[Adriano]

Lewis is suffering the same problem that every goodlooking British winner has . British people hate winners who look like winners and act like winners. Show me a beer swilling over indulgent looser who squanders his talent and I will show you a loved sportsman. Either that or someone who keeps the masses hoping that finally after so many years of trying he/she will finally get the trophy..and promptly retires after.
The loser in this case isnt Lewis or David Beckham ,Andy Murry or Carl Fogarty( another love hate winner ). Its the sad insecure loser in all of you who feels the need to bore us all to death with your sad sappy rants about a guy you hardly know..simply because he is doing something etreamly well in his own way, and loving every minute of it, and yes because he is seen as cocky cool swaggering black sports man ,in the same mould as a American rap artist ...yes I said it ,
This isnt not the usual racist crap that weak people bleat about ( Andy Murry has it because hes Scottish )but because he dosnt fit with the typical stereotype of what a British black sports man is supposed to be ,humble and non thereatening and a figure of fun.Is this a coincidence that all this hating started when he started hanging out with rap stars and people who most of the British press constantly wish to see tumble but refuse to oblige, by still being WINNERS

Get over it xxxx enjoy the lad while he is here , dont wait until somthing bad happens to him to then adore him. Hasnt Senna's death taught you xxxxx anything (I am not comparing him to Senna okay ) He was also hated by some members of the media when he came up , for daring to go against Proffesor Prost, and gasp ! our Nige.( who plays golf all day in his own private Club and couldnt give toss about the public oh very working class ),but in the end he inspired so many other drivers, just say Senna now to Shumacher Rubens ,Massa and Hamilton and watch them go all misty.

[Hol]

I've seen very little evidence of this so called bad attitude. He dealt maturely with the juvenile and blatantly racist hate campaign waged to put him off his game and was gracious with his win.

As for this ridiculous complaint about living in Switzerland... other people have already pointed out the hypocrisy of criticising him but not all the other F1 drivers for doing the same, including other Brits. I wouldn't want to live here or pay taxes here either if my fellow countrymen people were going to insult and attack me for having the temerity to actually win at sport! Why his girlfriend has been brought into it I have no idea, since who who he dates has nothing to do with his driving ability. Seems like people are just looking for any excuse to criticise.

Well, I'm proud to see a British winner, so good on him.

[Jeffrey Churchill]

Dear Ben:
Your question "can Britain learn to love lewis hamilton" ? is rather a pertinent question, but I do not think Lewis should worry about that too much. If we look back at history,it is inevitable for people of importance to go un-noticed. Lewis is in a sport that has captivate the World by what he does better than most before him, and those present now, therefore, I am not surprise at all that even his own people would resent him ! Is't it the norm for your own to hate you ? Look at the life of Jesus Christ, was't it his own who condem him, kill him ? Who is lewis ? who is you, and I ?
Lewis do not have to pay any attention to those who hate him, because what you give out in this life , you will also receive.
I like what has been written by A.Parker,and I think that sum's up my feelings concerning Lewis Hamilton.
Congrats are in order to Lewis, and his team. I take this opportunity in wishing them all the very best for next season, and I look forward to seeing more exciting races. God'sblessings to you Ben, and all at Times of London.

[karl]

you british people are weird, noy that your driver is champion you start to criticise him!

[Ian Myles]

Interesting.

Today, a talented and apparently decent self-made American black man is making history - to the admiration of much of the world.

Meanwhile, the history-making triumph of a talented and apparently decent self-made English black man is the cue for a chorus of questioning, if not downright disapproval, from people in his own country.

I wonder, what does this say about whom?

For my money, the way that Lewis Hamilton and in particular Felipe Massa handled and reacted to Sunday's impossible race was a credit to themselves and their sport, as it has been throughout the year.

Who knows what the future has in store for either? ('driving gods', in the Hamster's happy phrase, have good times and bad times like anyone else).

I for one say good luck to both of them, and may the next season be a great one...

[Robert E. Ameele]

This article is a huge disappointment from one of the few remaining newspapers with a fair amount of dignity. In reality, you are asking can people really like Lewis because he is black. Of course he doesn't bare his soul to the press. He would be crushed by the fire storm created over personal thoughts magnified ad nauseum by journalists. Walk a mile in his shoes. Any black athlete knows they have to be twice as good and totally guarded to avoid crucification by the press and fans alike. Pity the poor black althlete who can't find inspiration from the invective thrown against them, blatant or even more disgusting, the subtle jabs like your article. Of course you asked the same question about Schumacher and Senna, two of the most arrogant and manipulative personalities in sport. I doubt it. Try to have a little class. This is an article worthy at best of People Magazine. Let's try this one: Is it easy to love a third rate journalist who by some fluke writes for a dignified newspaper?

[A Parker]

Nigel, you've hit the nail on the head. I'm pretty sick of people denying that racism is a large part of it. I used to work in a pub in South London, and was quite accustomed to hearing abuse of black football players when a match was on the big screen. They even used to ask me if I spoke English, despite me having a far superior command of English than most of them. Some of them would abuse black people and then say to me "Oh we don't mean you of course". I always thought I had seen it all, but even to me it was an eye opener. God help any black people who wandered unsuspected into the pub as it was like a scene out of the Wild West – the silence, the stares and then the landlord hounded them until they never came back. I’m surprised I lasted as long as I did there but I was desperate for the money at the time. The landlord (who was Irish actually, ironically) used to say quite proudly: “I’m as racist as the next man but I like [this black footballer (I forget his name)]”.

I know Ed Gorman didn’t write this article, but I would like to say something to him as he has previously addressed me directly on this matter of racism, saying that it wasn’t all about that and that Lewis was having a great time. I have just read that his father considered pulling out of F1 because of the racism they were subjected to, so it is naïve to suggest that people are not really hurt and affected by racism. Ed, you would know if you were black. I can see how it would hurt Anthony even more than Lewis but be assured that any racist abuse is damaging, hurtful and sickening.

I think this all proves that there are millions in the world who love and admire Lewis for his achievements, but there are still those who are racist and suspicious of nice people. What a wonderful world we live in in the 21st Century!

[Iñigo montoya]

Give Fernando Alonso a good car and you will not have to love Hamilton anymore...

[A Parker]

Inigo Montoya, Alonso had a good car last year and Lewis still beat him. Ha!

[Ryan]

A Parker, so because you had a bad experience in that pub, the rest of us (who would probably never set foot in a South London pub if you paid us) have to "love" Lewis Hamilton or we're racist?

Are we not allowed to have any criticisms of "black" sportspeople without being labelled racist? Surely you want us to treat Lewis the same as any white driver? In this case if DC or Jenson had won I would still have commented on their tax exile status.

I find your generalisations offensive. Bet you didn't defend Schumi when people criticised him, it comes with the territory when you're high profile. And I'm sure he doesn't mind too much when he looks at his bank statement in his Geneva mansion.

[olasimbo]

who says Britain DO NOT LOVE LEWIS? HA! another way for media to make money on unfounded controversies!....its just typical British to find faults in success...that is why the USA and other Western countries will continue and forever be on top!!!

WE LOVE LEWIS HAMILTON...OKAY!!! AND I AM BRITISH!

[Adriano]

Here we go again....people ,its not that you can’t criticize black sports people ,without being called a racist ..it’s just that when the question is based on the star in question ,being British enough (Which at one time was associated with being a winner of all things)for the public . Or whether his temperament is indicative of what true Englishman is supposed to be like, One can hardly blame black people not to feel slightly annoyed to put it mildly.
I would rather not have to think about the colour of my skin being a factor in regards to how people judge my behavior at times, but like it or not in the real world that’s how we judge each other. Sometimes it works in my favour sometimes it doesn’t , I don’t whine about it but I don’t ignore it either .
I used to remember journalists ,questioning John Barns suitability for playing for England because he hated playing in the cold ,Think things have changed ? Paul Ince's appointment was greeted with can he handle the pressure of a Premiere league club being the only black Manager...I heard nothing of the sort for Zola ,Southgate ,or Tony Adams,
I actually believe the British public by in large want get past the race issue... but stereotypes take a long time to erase, and its going to take time , but we can’t just sit by and wallow in the delusion that a person's race and background is as much a part of their persona as the way they express themselves and how we in turn perceive them.

[Peter Hermann]

Who drove into the back of a Ferrari in the pitlane, completely unable to see a read light?

Hamilton.

Who drove into other cars backs in the race looking like he was playing play-station?

Hamilton.

Who pushed others drivers out of his way as if he had the right to?

Hamilton.

Who won the championship because one driver didnt have the guts to keep his line?

Hamilton.

There are all facts, wether you like them or not. He won this title because all others have been driving lesser cars or because they have had mechanical or pit problems.

Whats there to like? The day Hamilton decides to learn something about sportsmanship, and show some real effort, i will be the first to gratulate him.

Supposed this day will ever come. Which i doubt.

[A Parker]

Ryan, when you're black, you don't just have ONE bad experience in a pub. That was just a pertinent example because it related to sport. Racism affects you day in day out. Oh, what's the point, you'll never understand and probably don't want to.

[Florien]

I'm English, Ferrari fan, watched almost all of the races for the last twenty years, inhabited several F1 forums for the last ten years, even helped moderate a couple. As such I think I have a fairly good idea of the views of the average long time F1 fan, not those who just come and go based on the success or failure of one driver.

Hamilton is a marmite character and there are many English people whose opinions range from ambivalence, to dislike to outright hatred of Hamilton and I don't think much of it is down to racism. When he entered F1 the vast majority were as usual quite interested in this kid who'd done well in lower Formula. But much of this changed on two key occasions which can be pinned down almost to the minute.

1. In an interview prior to the '07 Monaco GP he made a comment referring to not wanting to be mixing it with the 'back of the grid monkeys'. The lower half of the field in that F1 season consisted of long timers and multi race winners such as Coulthard, Webber, Barrichello, R.Schumacher, Trulli and Wurz. Here was this kid who was in just his 5th race, never won a thing in the sport mocking people, some of whom had come close to death in their long careers. This was arrogance beyond belief.

The other moment was when he ***** Alonso in Hungary. As a Ferrari fan and coming off the back of two season of being beaten by Alonso I'm not one who cares too much for him. But Hamilton broke a gentleman's agreement and when Alonso paid him back he sent daddy running to the FIA to complain.

It seemed that after that it was open season on him on message boards by fans of any nationality.

[Adriano]

PETER HERMANN all the things you described about this year's championship are all part of what makes SPORT WHAT IT IS ....do you actually think that all the past champions didn’t benefit from some one else’s misfortune.
Look man before you start ranting like some spoilt child take a look at the history of Formula one ..if you care,
It is littered with championships settled in worse scenarios than this season. Nigel Mansell 86, Michael Schumacher’s first Championship, Ayrton Senna losing to Alain Prost in his first Fuji scrap , Niki Lauda's last championship, etc too many to mention ..... are you kidding me

Whether you like Hamilton or not is not the point .Everybody has the right to choose their favorite driver team etc. But to make points that are based on waffle other than fact and statistics is downright annoying.
Learn about the history of the sport before you start yammering on about how drivers efforts and who deserves to win or not . If you got the points by driving with the best of your ability whether you’re in the best car or not you deserve to win . If he is a hard competitor then it’s up to the others to step up the game,
I remember Senna telling Prost at Fuji where he was going to be at the first corner and, that he (Prost) should choose where he wanted to end up , because he Senna would not be backing down ( I miss those days ). JPM even applied the pressure on Schumacher a few times ....and DC ...and it wasn’t viewed as fair at the time either. BUT THAT IS RACING ,

Oh and before you roll your eyes check this out every Championship driver has always strived to get into the best car at that moment in time , but not all of them won Championships in them .

Plastic fans ??

[Rulietta]

You ought to be proud because it is National pride, and it is normal. Since Damon Hill, no Briton had won the title and one can only remember that. As a French person, I respect it for, since Alain Prost, no French driver won the World Title. So obviously you cannot be blamed for you lack for objectivity. But, as a French person, my judgement was never clouded by National pride because I always supported a Spaniard. You know who I am talking about...
I never supported him more than I did last year, after he left Renault. Because then, he needed it. And I will tell you what... Had Ron Dennis, Lewis and Anthony Hamilton behaved differently, I would have nothing against them today, and I would say it is a good thing for F1 to have a young and talented champion.

The problem is that it is objectively not the case. All the things said by Peter Hermann are true, those are facts, observed not only by viewers, but by analysts. I mean, why would this article you are commenting on ever been written if it has all been thin air? It is not thin air, it is a truth. You never ask yourself why he is hated?

Do you know the phrase: "It is not what you are that defines you, but what you do"? Look at what he does, objectively. You will understand why people dislike him.

There are divas of all sorts. Some called Fernando Alonso a diva because he is demanding and exclusive. This is true. He IS demanding and exclusive. But he never lied, never faked anything. Sometimes it cost him a lot. He was often too honest and last year it cost him more than it ever did before. But he is true, to his heart, to his brain, to his convictions.

Plastic Fans, yes. For a plastic driver. Lewis Hamilton was molded by Ron Dennis since he was 10 years old, prepared to win like little girls whose mothers push to compete in local beauty pageants. There is no passion, no truth in that. Only a manner for the British Team to sell the victory of a British driver, symbolic and prolific.

You are proud, for the exact reasons why Ron Dennis created Lewis Hamilton. A British driver in a British team. But Lewis Hamilton? Do you know him? Watch him drive, you will have an idea. He is vulgar as a driver, there is no poetry in his driving. He is empty as a person, he was created as any ad campaign would have been.

He is what Bernie Ecclestone wants for Formula One today. A new generation of formatted, brainless drivers to fit his new generations of formatted tasteless circuits.

This is not how I like this sport. This is not what it is supposed to be. But old school drivers are still alive, and they will not let Bernie make this decision for them. I am eagerly waiting for 2009.

[Zoe]

Lewis himself, I won't deny for one moment that he is one of the best drivers in his generation, I respect him for that.
I have, however, never felt drawn to support him like I have with several other drivers that I currently support. I like Scott Dixon, some say he's even more emotionless than Kimi but I find the shyness in the way he presents himself and his sense of humour very endearing (sorry for using an Indycar driver but there isn't a current F1 driver I could use as an example).

Also, to those claiming racism as a reason:
Where I spent the first few years of my life in Glasgow I, as a 'white' person, was in the minority when it came to ethnic groups yet there was never any problems. Due to where my grandparent's lived (as they would be picking me up and watching me when my parents were working), I went to a nursery where all the kids were 'white'. Because of the difference in accents (as well as being a lot thicker than the local accent, I was more prone to slurring my sounds) I didn't mix with the other kids as much for the first few months because they couldn't understand me. Instead of suggesting help with my speech, the nursery teacher suggested that I had became very self-discriminating towards my own race due to my home life.

Honestly, how on earth can a four year old develop such thoughts unless they are forced there by someone older than them? This is also part of the reason why I have a problem with Political Correctness, which includes positive discrimination, as I feel it is putting up more barriers than bringing down.

[Wendy]

Why oh why can people not celebrate success especially if you are British,just remember the cricket on saturday and the rugby league on sunday, being a Lancashire lass both of which i love but gave me nothing to cheer about but sunday when lewis crossed the line in the required 5th place I cheered and shouted and will continue to do so. Sometimes people cannot do right for doing wrong and never will.

[David Bevir]

Lewis Hamilton is where he is now because of his skill and determination and the devoted support of his family.
McLaren saw his potential and contracted him. He has performed his part of the contract, winning the WDC in his second season and as the youngest driver ever to do so. So long as McLaren perform their part, i.e. provide him with a decent car and the necessary backup, I'm sure that he will stay with them for the rest of his career as he has already said that he will.
What is there to dislike about him ? As a person he has charm, simplicity and humour, and a girlfriend who is obviously fond of him, as you can see from the video reports and the photos. She is half Filipino, and the people of the Philippines are among the nicest in the world - I should know, I am lucky enough to have a partner who is 100% Filipino.
Let's salute Lewis for his achievements so far, celebrate his successes and support him in the years to come, while hoping that he retains his integrity and remains true to himself. If he does, he will surpass Michael Schumacher in every respect.

[Mrs Bishop]

IM ENGLISH!!!
...and i LOVE lewis!
But I have a sense of humour and realise that any man with a talent is gunna be slightly big headed, and anyone who is judged 24-7 will very rarely let people in...
Plus he's a pretty mint driver!
Anyway it's never done Marmite any harm!