Lewis Hamilton to leave Mclaren-Mercedes for Mercedes AMG Petronas in 2013

General Discussion
#1

Pretty big news. Will be interesting to see how this shakes out…especially when there are still 6 races to go for 2012, and he’s driving for Mclaren in those 6 races.

I can’t figure out why they wouldn’t do something like this in the off-season. This would be tantamount to Kobe Bryant, who was about to be an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season, announcing that he had signed a 3 year deal with The Boston Celtics…in February, with 30 games to go in the season where he was still playing for The Lakers.

http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2012/9/13851.html

#2

That’s pretty normal Sak, remember Alonso did the same thing in 96 with Renault, moving to McLaren.

I am worried about Lewis’s chances next year, but you gotta admit Mercedes started out faster than McLaren this year, then dropped back with poor development decisions and only one half-decent driver. Having Hamilton will really complete the package there. It seems like getting Lauda on-board really got Mercedes corporate fired up about F1, when it seemed like the month before, they might have pulled out.

McLaren next year…they will suffer. Prepare to see Perez in front of Button all year, somewhere around 7th or 8th though.

#3

Will definitely be interesting next year. Mercedes is a non factor right now for the most part.

As for it being normal…referencing something that happened 16 years ago doesn’t make it normal lol.

#4

A mad decision for Hamilton and Mclaren. But Ross Brawn is genius, no doubt. But the seal’s real winner is Hamilton’s management company, who stand to make a lot more money with Hamilton out of Mclaren and all of their sponsorship deals.

#5

You knew this was a done deal when Hamilton was vocally complaining that for race victories, McLaren would keep the trophy, and give him a replica of the trophy. That was a great pschological cue of someone who was ready to leave someone they ‘loved’…and in order to do so, they begin coming up with reasons to be mad and hate the person/company/place.

People do it when they’re leaving their job (start mentally hating co-workers they formerly got along with, start despising the commute, office conditions etc), when they’re about to move out of a neighbourhood (start hating neighbours, seeing all the negatives), and something we all see…when you’re a teenager, you start bickering and fighting your parents. This is your mental way of preparing to leave…makes it easier.

#6

True that Sak.

LOL let me correct - 2006. It DID happen in '96 - Damon Hill, actually, and he won the WC that year even. Kimi Raikonnen leaving for Macca for Ferrari after 06 too, he knew way early on in the year. Ummmm…I’ve been watching F1, every race, since a rainy Portugal in 85 (senna’s first win too, so you can take a guess who I think is the GOAT).

McLaren will lose big by this, like Bango said, and I can imagine the sponsors will flock out too. They never seem to see it coming. I’m predicting McLaren will flounder, like they did 92-95 - they are without a top driver, unless Perez climbs a steep learning curve. And even then, when I see Kobayashi on the front row in the Sauber, you gotta admit Perez is being flattered this year by a well-balanced car and a sensible team. Button just doesn’t have what it takes unless the car is absolutely magical - but that takes a lot of development, esp with making the car work with the tires. Anyway you can probably tell I don’t have a lot of respect for JB as a #1 driver.

#7

Predictions for this year anyone?

The McLaren is still super fast - they are currently dominating FP1 in Japan right now. The Bulls might be able to put a fight, but might not - it’s likely Hamilton will catch up to Sebastian without car failures.

So if Hamilton and Vettel will clean up the rest of the races, and unless the #2s get in the way (webber, Button, don’t forget Lotus will be fast) Alonso should pick up enough points to make it a fight at the last race with one or both of them.

Next year prediction - it’s gonna be a Newey year - I’m sure they are saving a bag of tricks and using it on the Bull next year. Don’t forget it’s a year of stability until 2014 when the big car changes happen - so a lot of teams might give up 2013 development halfway through the year if it looks like they aren’t performing and concentrate on the next car.

And don’t forget, the whispers have already started, like they did with Raikkonen in 06, about Seb moving to Ferrari in 2014, so I’m sure the Bulls will go all out to snatch one more title before the mayhem of 2014. I hope Alonso just destroys him at ferrari…

#8

Guess it is sort of normal. Weird…would be like letting the other team see the playbook!

#9

2012 Alonso driver and McLaren constructors

2013…impossible to even begin to predict

#10

Button does seem just happy to be part of the team and relishing the no 2 role. Maybe he’ll step it up again as no 1 next year. Prob not though!

#11

2012 Driver - Alonso (but I’m hoping Seb not a Hamilton fan)

2012 Constructors - Redbull

#12

lol yeah button probably can’t believe he has been world champion and makes 30 million dollars a year. It’s like a dream.

The brawn domination year when he won was ridiculouis. Well…it wasn’t a whole year frankly. It was the first half of the year where they built such a lead that they were pretty much unbeatable. But it was a career maker for him. He has certainly won his share of grands prix since then, but certainly not world champion or leading man levels of success.

#13

Yeah that sums up JB for me too. When required to, I just don’t see him being able to pull the fast laps out of the bag like the top drivers could.

In contrast, Hamilton seems like a caged tiger all the time, wanting to do qualifying laps all day but being held back by engine maps, fuel conservation, tire strategy. I’ve really grown to respect his abilities since 2007 - At the time, Alonso was my hero for ending the Schumi domination, it was hard for me at the time to admit that he was being beaten by Hamilton the rookie in a straight fight at McLaren that year.

Alonso - absolutely at the top of his game now, he has had a brilliant year and as much as I’d love to see Hammy make it a fight, Alonso deserves it. I can only recall one questionable move all year, in Canada when he didn’t cover Hamilton’s strategy.

Seb - it pretty much showed this year hat he needs the car under him, and seeing Webber challenge him so easily at the start of the year made him look quite ordinary. Bulls have always been designed aerodynamically to work from P1 only…notice their limited gearing, minor DRS speed difference, KERs limitations, cooling issues that only happened this year despite having the same parts on the car as years past (hmmm…following people?), atrocious tire wear/aero when following. They didn’t count on this year happening, and blamed it on the exhaust-blown aero ban - not entirely true though. Seb seems to have some form back now, though, at the tracks where the Bull works.

#14

I would like to see Lewis Hamilton back in the Suzuki Leona at the Top Gear track. He was pretty much fastest of the F1 drivers who had been, and did so on a wet track with oil out there from a Holden or something that had problems earlier in the day.

I was pretty impressed when Vettel went and wiped the floor with everyone on the Top Gear leaderboard. It’s neat how the fast guys are just…fast. We can’t forget that he’s doing that as much as 6-7 years after some of the other guys…so that car is not exactly making the same power it did when new.

It’s an absurd measurement, but I don’t think it’s a co-incidence that the board stacks up the way it does.

http://i375.photobucket.com/albums/oo193/sakimano/untitled-28.jpg

#15

True. In a straight fight, its between those 2 guys IMO. Add in traffic and strategy, you can’t beat the racecraft and quick thinking of a guy like Alonso.

I am down on Seb a lot, and I know why. When he is dominating, the racing becomes boring. If he’s back in the pack, its pretty ordinary. With Lewis, in front or back in the field, you just know something exciting will happen. He is the most Senna-like driver that we’ve had since Senna himself.

Off the track, though - who is the winner? JB…:slight_smile:

http://img.devotedpics.com/j/jessica-michibata/miscellaneous/jessica-michibata-pictures-a1308bbdb1c02e0368049e2087b4b348.jpg

#16

I’m not a fan of Nicole Scherzinger (but Chris Brown is)

Hey did you ever hear the story about JB nearly getting kidnapped in Brazil? It was NUTS. Not many people know about it. Basically some machine gun toting thugs were waiting for an F1 driver coming from the race to their hotel, blocked the route in a traffic jam, and came flooding out of a couple of trucks towards Button’s transport car (he had his dad with him I think too). Fortunately the driver of their car was well trained and prepared and he blasted through the stopped cars and got them out of there safely.

South America is nuts. A friend does a lot of business in Sao Paolo, and he said his feet never touch the ground after the airport. From private jet here, to the airport there, and out and into a helicopter, then to the helipad at his hotel, then from the hotel helipad to the helipad at the buildings he has meetings at…then back up to the roof and back to his hotel. It’s pretty mental. Kidnapping for ransom is like the national sport for the disgruntled criminal element in Brazil.

#17

We need a dedicated F1 thread somewhere here…

So I’ve been watching the practices on the bbc iplayer and damn were there a lot of accidents.

I was also kind of bummed to hear the Schumi is indeed going to retire again. I know he has been far from amazing this season, but for some reason I have always rooted for him. I think it’s because he has been around so long and been there as F1 has constantly changed. Racing now is FAR from the days when he and Senna used to drive. That and everytime I see him I just think of the Stig, even if it wasn’t really him.

#18

I work in Brazil a lot. Interesting place as long as you stay away from the Favela’s. If you start going uphill…turn around. Not as bad as Colombia though, at least not in my oppinion.

#19

It’s a shame too, as both of those countries are incredibly beautiful (…you know if you avoid the slum and narco areas)

#20

How about a Vettel to Ferrari switch more than a year in advance? (Speculation admittedly!)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/oct/15/sebastian-vettel-ferrari-formula-one

Vettel is a great driver in a fast car who carries himself with great humour and grace. Even as a Brit, I’d say Vettel > Hamilton.