Maybe I'm getting a little ahead of things, but after watching the first two Formula 1 races this year, I'm not yet convinced Lewis Hamilton isn't the second-coming of Ayrton Senna.

Oh, my goodness, this kid is good.

If you're not much of a race fan, or even if you are, for many years now Formula 1 racing has been a bit of a snore. The cars were so dependent on technology that whoever had the greatest bit of software dominated.

F1 races at that time were mostly boring two-hour parades. I'm a fairly die-hard fan and didn't really enjoy it...imagine the rest of the world that cares less.

Anyway, thankfully, a few years ago the FIA, the governing body, changed the rules to bring more parity to the series and, along with it, more competition. Whining from everyone involved notwithstanding, these changes worked and F1 is once again a great show of racing.

But the best part of the show is clearly Lewis Hamilton, an attractive and massively-talented 21-year-old black Briton phenom. During the first race of the season, after watching him pass three cars, including his teammate a 2-time World Champion, on the outside of the first turn of his first-ever F1 race, one of the TV commentators said, "Lewis could do for racing what Tiger Woods has done for golf."

I can believe it. He is absolutely riveting to watch and, even in just these two races has shown that, rookie or not, he is there to win. Watch him.

1. Vitor Pereira04/09/2007 06:49:08 PM
Homepage: http://www.vitor-pereira.com

It might be a bit early to compare with Senna but Hamilton is in fact the best to emerge ever since. It's great to see some excitement again.

There is really no point in comparing with his teammate who is not, despite being a 2-time world champion, that much of a driver.

Mercedes has been investing on Hamilton for a couple of years now and he will give huge payback.

2. Jason04/18/2007 09:05:37 AM
Homepage: http://blog.jasonhookonline.com

In recent years I've lost interest in F1 for all of the reasons you mentioned. It's , well, been very boring. Lewis is certainly a very exciting prospect and it's nice for the British Isles to see a Briton doing so well. We're a bit used (in my opinion) to not doing being competetive on the global sporting stage.

3. Richard Griffin04/18/2007 05:20:27 PM

Scott,

This kid is has it!

If he stays dedicated and focused, with a reliable car, I'd say we have a world champion on our hands.

Alonso has a lot to worry about with his young teammate. I think he has been surprised and a little shaken with the Lewis's performance so far.

Kimi is my favorite driver and I hope he can pull the driver's championship this year.

Take care,

Richard

4. Ben Dubuc04/19/2007 12:29:13 PM

Yep, F1 is fun to look at again, indeed. Adn it'll only get better as next year, they remove more electronics (no more traction control).

I prefer WRC Rallye than F1, and I have to admit I also prefer Champ Car races than F1. Rallye, well it' sbecause it's Rallye. Champ Car: since all cars are almost equal and all "manually" controlled, it can give exciting races. It's too bad they got into money (and credibility) issues, but they are usually fun races to watch.

I recently got into LeMans series. That is pretty cool too, as there's so many cars on the track that there is always action.

I think racing in general has a brighter future ahead, especially F1 and ChampCar.

And for Hamilton, being a Candian, I can't help to think about Jacques Villeneuve's first year in F1: that was pretty impressive too. But I beleive Lewis' debut is even more impressive, as the McLaren is not as dominant as the Williams was in 1996-1997. The kid showed tromendous "toupet" doing outside passes and doesn't seem to be intimidated at all. This is going to be really fun to watch evolve.

Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrroum : )

5. Scott Good04/19/2007 02:08:50 PM
Homepage: http://www.scottgood.com

Ben,

I'm with you. I LOVE watching WRC Rallies but I don't think they're being broadcast this year in the US (which sucks). I used to love Champ car, too, and really miss the good old days of big fields of known drivers. I'm looking forward to them getting onto road courses instead of these street courses. I don't like the street races much.

The American LeMans is growing on me, too. We actually have a weekend this year at Mid-Ohio where both IRL and ALMS will be racing--same weekend. That should be fun!

Scott

6. Ben Dubuc04/21/2007 09:44:48 AM

I agree, street racing is no fun. It means tighter tracks and less passing. And to top that, it means more crashes, which in Champ Car these days is a bad thing, as you can get a race where only 10-12 cars make it across the finish line.

We have a circuit here in Quebec that will hold the Champ Car race this year: Mont-Tremblant circuit. F1 used to race there in the 70s I think. I went to see a Lemans race there 2 years a go and it is a very nice circuit. Tickets are out of price here for the Champ Car so I won't go this year, but it promises to be a really fun race to watch.

As far as WRC is concerned, it's not on TV here either. I got digital cable so I could choose my channels and get Speed just to watch the rallies, but they don't show them anymore. What a shame. I guess WRC is not that big here in North America. It's a shame...

Anyway, the F1 season promises to be fun, and a few Champ Car races too, so we'll have plenty to watch.

That'll keep my Sundays busy

7. Gp06/10/2007 03:04:23 PM

Senna is dead FIA is lame and seems to me Formula1 is going down the drain if you look at the Cnadian fiasco

8. wanda06/17/2007 03:02:12 PM

Lewis Hamilton is a phenomen...he sure is very talented...but it can`t be compared with senna...he has not that experience.i like him and i hope Formula 1 will change and won`t be time,anymore for "snoring" because they have to do the best show...hope Lewis Hamilton will help them

9. Joseavs06/18/2007 12:18:52 AM

Pals,

Just watch this video and see who is the Lewis Hamilton hero? Ayrton Senna. Lewis Hamilton's hero is Ayrton Senna. He was 9 when Ayrton pass. And he cry. He think that Ayrton was invincible. Last year, their team when he race in Monaco show one drive of Ayrton in Monaco. Lewis said: " Wow! he make with inferior car 4 or 5 corrections and he stay in second play. I wanna be a perfect driver like him". Like Ayrton -look the amarello's helment of Lewis- he is fighting with 2 times F1 champion in McLaren: Fernando Alonso, and Senna with Prost. Of course, I bet for Hamilton, because something of the Ayrton Senna inspiration stay in him.
Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qt_PJqM-sRc

10. Mayes06/18/2007 07:30:31 AM
Homepage: http://www.lewishamilton.org.uk

Now with two wins under his belt and storming towards the World Championship title this kid IS the new Senna.

Fantastic

11. John Dillon06/27/2007 01:18:52 PM
Homepage: http://wwwWidgetRacing.com

Hamilton could never be the next Senna. Lewis lacks the arrogance.

Senna was an incredible driver from a technical perspective, able to work miracles with any ol' piece of equipment, but his on-track antics were sometimes over the top. Crashing out your team mate to win a championship is not a sporting move.

Considering the results of Hamilton so far, and as he matures in the cockpit and grows more familiar with the venues, we can only expect greater success. The idea of a rookie claiming a world championship title in 2007 is definitely realistic these days.

I can't wait to see him in a WRC car. Man, I'll bet he'd even kick butt driving a Skoda!

Rally on!

John

12. Tiago07/06/2007 02:19:33 AM

I still remember the day senna died... it looked like yesterday... it took me ages to get over... I knew straight away I would never watch a F1 race again... and I pretty much didn't since that day...
with the arrival of hamilton... i'm finally getting excited about f1 again...

13. Hamilton=Senna is ridiculous08/09/2007 03:50:25 AM

Hamilton is not even near to be Senna. How many times he has overtaken another rival in a race (Alonso, Raikonnen or Massa)?... Never! When it was raining the other day... he did nothing! Hamilton= next Senna Hamilton brings fun to F1? He only needs to copy Alonso telemetry, in Silverstone he tried to do it by himself and he did nothing. Currently F1 is ruled by British... and Hamilton is... He is more a marketing product than a driver (even when he is a good one).

Please, don't compare a genious with just a good driver with a lot of marketing behind him.

14. Alan10/11/2007 09:12:55 AM

You're insulting someone by comparing him with Senna. Senna is the most negative sport figure ever lived. No one ever went so far to almost kill his opponent to win anything.

15. Scott Good10/11/2007 09:53:27 AM
Homepage: http://www.scottgood.com

Granted, but for all that, Senna was a spectacular talent.

16. HD07/08/2008 01:58:01 PM

You can't really compare the two given today's car's have nearly HALF the HP that the Turbos/V-12's has in the late 80's/early 90's. Big balls to pilot them things(!) I will say that Hamilton does have the natural aggression of a Senna, especially during the race Start (arguably one of the best race starters ever) He will learn not to 'overdrive' so much to prove a point, but he's still young yet. Senna is and forever will be the greatest ever in my book (best at development, communication w/mechanics, etc.) But Hamilton will eventually be worthy of mention along Senna, Schumacher (ask him!) certainly Alonso (Who will NEVER make it to Ferrari, times running out on him) Expect him to eke out a WDC win this year by less than 5 points (squeaker) over Kimi (who remains the fastest overall)

17. Marco Rezende10/03/2008 08:16:26 AM

I am not saying that due to the fact that I am brazilian, but it's still to early to compare Hamilton to Senna.

Besides the fact that F1 cars in the past were much more dependant on pilots' skills, not so much help from computers, Senna raced among many other drivers that were much better than Hamilton's today's oponents (in my oppinion).

Does anybody, today, see drivers that can be compared to Mansel, Prost, Berger, Rosberg, Piquet, Schumacher and so on?

I think Hamilton is no doubt the most talented today, but it's too early to make this kind of comparison. He's got a lot to show yet.

Kind regards to everybody!

18. James10/03/2008 11:04:24 PM

Senna the best EVER!!!


Hamiton?