Hamilton
struggles to be popular | 2008
race-by-race | Hamilton
in his own words | Graphic:
the thrilling finish | Do
you believe in the conspiracy theories?
To sit with Lewis Hamilton in an hotel room in São Paulo yesterday was to
confront questions about what we expect from our sporting heroes.
Hamilton was variously asked about money, fame, relationships, racism and
American politics on top of how it felt to be Formula One world champion.
Even if he was remarkably fresh-faced, having opted merely for a couple of
glasses of celebratory champagne, that was a lot to coax from a man
described by his father as “just a big kid with a car”.
“No Muhammad Ali,” is how Flavio Briatore, the managing director of the
Renault team, recently derided Hamilton, but what became evident yesterday
is that Hamilton does not aspire to be a black icon or a man who changes the
world.
Earl Woods once made those sorts of boasts on behalf of his son, Tiger. Woods
Jr, it transpired, just wanted to be the best in the world with a five-iron.
In a similar vein, being the first black Formula One champion was not a
subject that Hamilton particularly wanted to dwell on.
“I have not really thought about it,” he said. “Pretty much for my whole life,
I've never turned up to a race and thought, ‘I'm the only black dude here'.
We're just a family who love to race and enjoy the experience.” He was
asked, but had little to say, about Barack Obama.
Hamilton is a 23-year-old from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, with a pretty girl on
his arm, more money than he knows how to spend and ambitions that do not
extend much beyond winning the three World Championships - equalling Ayrton
Senna's haul for McLaren - that will secure the car of his dreams as a
reward from Ron Dennis, the team principal.
In the McLaren factory sits an orange F1 LM worth about £5million. Hamilton
has coveted it since he was given a car book as a ten-year-old and was
enraptured by the picture on the cover.
“I don't ever plan on trying to beat any of Schumacher's records,” he said.
“It's not something that really appeals to me. I just want to win this car
off Ron.
“I have gazed at it every time I've walked past it. I always open it up and
smell it. It's carbon, it's fresh, it's No1 out of five and probably the
most expensive, beautiful car in the whole world. I told Ron, 'That's the
car I really want, what have I got to do for it?'” Two more World
Championships is the answer.
Talking to Hamilton and his father, Anthony, and seeing their wide-eyed
excitement that their dreams have come true, it was hard to imagine how they
had become the source of such envy and resentment to the point where Anthony
had questioned whether it was worth staying in the sport.
If we have to acknowledge that they have played a part in Lewis becoming a
polarising figure, it is that he sometimes carried the air of a champion
prematurely. There was the autobiography at 22, which Lewis accepted
yesterday was a mistake - “I won't be doing another one for 20 years,” he
promised. There were the overstated claims that the paparazzi have driven
him to flee the country, although he is making no apologies - and why should
he? - for choosing to live in tax exile in Switzerland.
The family have also talked, a little more than some would like, about destiny
and being blessed by God. Anthony said that God had guided Lewis through the
last few races of the season and over the finish line, even arranging a
wake-up call with the impetuous mistake at the Fuji Speedway three races
ago. “I think it was God-sent,” Anthony said. “The whole thing has been a
sign: 'Lewis, I'm warning you here. Take [the lesson] in Japan, come back in
China and regroup.'” Plenty of sportsmen talk about faith, but his rivals,
and others, have detected a degree of presumptuousness. Is Hamilton, they
ask, the only one touched by God?
If such talk of blessings and gifts points to a stunning self-certainty
possessed by Anthony and Lewis, we must also acknowledge that, without it,
they might be working in office jobs in Stevenage. The story has become
familiar of how Anthony made sacrifices to fund the young Lewis's career.
“When we first started, I was earning £14,000 a year and I was spending
£16,000 on mortgages,” Anthony said. “We fell into this karting thing.
“It was just something to bring the family together, more than anything. We
weren't following anyone, we had no aspirations, there are no sportsfolk in
the family. It was just a great thing to do one afternoon.”
Hamilton came to enjoy the patronage of McLaren, and access to one of the
fastest cars in the sport, but only by first proving his talent. Now all
that hard work has secured the sport's ultimate prize, there will be no
let-up in expectations. Hamilton has proved himself to be very good. Now he
is under pressure to show he is among the very best.
By his own admission, he has been inconsistent this season and, on Sunday,
demonstrated a familiar weakness of using up his tyres, which made him
vulnerable to the late drama. Yet he is the sport's youngest champion,
nevertheless.
Last year he drank until he vomited, trying to forget defeat, but this year he
sipped water so that he could cherish the memories. He departed the McLaren
party after the entire team, from Dennis to the chefs, had sung along to We
are the Champions. “It's a feeling you can't put into words to see how happy
you've made everyone,” Hamilton said. Then he slipped off to bed.
“That was my prize,” he said, denying that he would be rushing out to buy a
vast mansion, a private jet, a yacht - something befitting his new status.
“It's an amazing feeling to know you've made some money, considering I never
had £100 to buy myself some trainers when I was younger,” he added. “To
think that we can do that now is great, but it doesn't particularly appeal
to me. It is nice to be able to take care of my family. That's all that
really matters.”
Indeed, the best thing about being world champion, Hamilton added, was that he
does not have to carry number 22 on his car any more. “I can have No1.
That's the coolest thing ever,” he said. And it all seemed rather sweet and
innocent.
He was not Muhammad Ali, just “a big kid with a car” who was first across the
line.
Champion must stand on ceremony
You would have thought that, having unearthed a world champion after a long,
compelling season, the powers behind Formula One would be keen to parade the
sport's new hero. Instead, in an established tradition, Lewis Hamilton is
required to wait until a gala dinner in Monaco next month to grasp the
silver flower vase that is the prize for winning the drivers' championship.
In addition, under Formula One's ultra-bureaucratic guidelines, the
23-year-old Briton will not be world champion officially if he fails to show
up to collect his prize.
What is the that problem we live in multi-cultural country, yet since Lewis has won the F1 crown and there is a problem, Lewis is just another racer with a god given talent racing against the same, and by their own rules score the most points and you win.
simon holland, maidenhead, berks
Just to add my agreement with everyone else. You could say Lewis is as much white as he is black, but is it really important. He's the first black world champion, that's meaningless.
He's the youngest World Champion ever, that's a fantastic achievement.
Well done and congratulations Lewis.
Daniel Smith, London, England
He's British,
try to get it right everyone
there are so many moments when he seems so much like a big kid its incredible. I totaly agree with this article, the media should stop trying to play up all this Muhamed Ali and Obama nonsense and just let him get on with it
Well done the Brit!
Brian, New York, USA
Like Amir Khan, like Rio Ferdinand, like Monty Panesar, who cares about Hamilton's skin colour? Had barely considered it.
Hamilton is British and a World Champion and people of all ages and backgrounds are inspired by his achievements, and that's all that's important.
Elliot, London,
I did not realise he was black either! How does it make any difference? Do part black people not normally drive as well or something?! He is British; well done for being the youngest ever world champion!!
andrew, andover,
I didn't even realise he was black.
Who cares what colour he is? He's British and he's World Champion. This isn't America, where absolutely everything seems to be about 'race'.
Joseph, Swansea,
Pity poor Hamilton in the face of the onslaught by stupid journalists. Just stick to the facts:
he's English
he's driven well all season
and in spite of questionable penalties imposed by people who don't seem to understand racing he's world champion.
A worthy winner indeed.
Richard Crompton, Baden, Switzerland
The one drop rule does not apply outside the US, as this was used during slavery to describe anyone who had one drop of black blood as black. Even Hitler didn't take it that far. Hamilton is mixed race, meaning he is as close to Muhamed Ali in racial terms as he is to Boris Becker.
Steve, London,
I hate this emphasis on his skin colour. Does being (partly) black affect your driving or something, like a disability?
No, it doesn't. Get over it, media, and just celebrate his success and his BRITISHness.
Dave, Slough,
Greetings,
Being a black man in the U.S A. who loves Formula One. I want to congratulate Lewis Hamilton on his historic accomplishment. I would like to hear that being the first black man to win the title means alot especially to black children around the world who will aspire to follow his path.
Vincent , Southfield, Michigan, U.S.A.
propper job. all that matters is your no1.f1 needs a propper racer like you. deducted so many points but still wone. dont matter what colour race creed you are . you wone it for all of us.love you bruv.x
vincent howe, essex, england