[Politics] Should Lewis Hamilton be knighted?

[dangull]

Andy Murray OBE and supporter of the break up of the union says he deserves one, that's another good enough reason for me.

 

[drew]

I love Hamilton
I think he deserves a knighthood
He is the most successful F1 driver the sport has known


However anyone who doesn't agree with me should not automatically be labelled a racist. Of course their are racial issues with this subject but to label someone racist because they dislike Lewis or think he is not worthy of the award because he is in the most dominant team is wrong. That surely does not mean their opinions are racially motivated.

Very true, not all but some. When someone claims he doesn't deserve it and their first reason is reference to support for BLM, it does beg the question!!!

 

[Iggle Piggle]

Bottas is possibly the best behind Hamilton and Verstappen. Arguably Ricciardo is in the mix too but Bottas is written off as shit by people who aren’t F1 fans because he can’t get close to beating Hamilton consistently. He would be the top driver in every other team other than Red Bull.

Not sure I'd agree with that. I'd put Ricciardo and Charles Leclerc clearly above Bottas as the best of the rest. Sainz was never far away from Verstappen but is curiously under rated and Norris keeps him honest (and you could argue Russell has a form line through Norris in junior formula albeit he needs to get the points monkey off his back). Vettel has had an awful year but is still a multiple world champion and it will be interesting to see how he gets on next year.

I'd agree Bottas is not a Ricardo Patrese style number 2 but he's midfield ish in the overall rankings for me.

 

[dangull]

I think Hamilton is possibly the top driver today, however it has to be said Vettel won 4 world titles in consecutive years and was considered on the verge of greatness. Since then has been outdriven by all his team mates and is considered as fairly ordinary today. The car - yes I know the argument that the best drivers get the best cars.

 

[Weststander]

I love Hamilton
I think he deserves a knighthood
He is the most successful F1 driver the sport has known


However anyone who doesn't agree with me should not automatically be labelled a racist. Of course their are racial issues with this subject but to label someone racist because they dislike Lewis or think he is not worthy of the award because he is in the most dominant team is wrong. That surely does not mean their opinions are racially motivated.

A relentless criticism by NSC’s LH haters over his decision to live in a tax haven, whilst not one NSC thread or post over the years about everyone’s favourite Button doing exactly the same, or Coulhard, Faldo, Jackie Stewart, Poulter, plus countless artists, movie stars.

Some of our other sporting heroes were members of tax avoidance schemes, ruled illegal.

This isn’t new, the internet is littered with discussions as to whether LH should’ve been a contender for BBC SPOTY or deserved an earlier honour due to choosing to live in Monaco.

Allied to LH having the bare faced cheek to talk about racism, this has made him a target for the haters who only talk about the black tax exile.

 

[Icy Gull]

Not sure I'd agree with that. I'd put Ricciardo and Charles Leclerc clearly above Bottas as the best of the rest. Sainz was never far away from Verstappen but is curiously under rated and Norris keeps him honest (and you could argue Russell has a form line through Norris in junior formula albeit he needs to get the points monkey off his back). Vettel has had an awful year but is still a multiple world champion and it will be interesting to see how he gets on next year.

I'd agree Bottas is not a Ricardo Patrese style number 2 but he's midfield ish in the overall rankings for me.

I think Bottas has been destroyed by Hamilton and will never reach his full potential whilst in the same team, and I think any of the other top drivers would suffer in the same way. I’m not convinced that even Max would challenge Hamilton over a season in the same car. He is too emotional and cavalier, a little like Hamilton used to be. Be interesting to see if he matures into the consistent driver he has the potential to be. All about opinions eh?

Le Clerc, jury is out for me, he can be brilliant but he is a little foolhardy at the moment.

I have never seen better than Hamilton although Senna and Alonso at his peak run him close. All have nous as well as being incredibly quick and clever

 

[WATFORD zero]

I can't believe that anyone would be stupid enough to claim he isn't the greatest British Racing Driver of all time, regardless of car (which F1 world championships are, I don't believe there has ever been any handicap based on what car you drive ?)

It's what we do in Britain, a great British tradition, give them a Royal appointment (don't like any of it myself), but that is another thread completely.

I can't imagine any reason why he wouldn't get one

 

[Iggle Piggle]

I think Bottas has been destroyed by Hamilton and will never reach his full potential whilst in the same team, and I think any of the other top drivers would suffer in the same way. I’m not convinced that even Max would challenge Hamilton over a season in the same car. He is too emotional and cavalier, a little like Hamilton used to be. Be interesting to see if he matures into the consistent driver he has the potential to be. All about opinions eh?

Le Clerc, jury is out for me, he can be brilliant but he is a little foolhardy at the moment.

I have never seen better than Hamilton although Senna and Alonso at his peak run him close. All have nous as well as being incredibly quick and clever

Senna's first lap at Donnington and some of his wet laps were beyond belief. His qualifying record is unreal and some of the gaps to his team mates are staggering (The average gap to Nakajima was something ridiculous like 3 seconds a lap and he never got within a second) but for the full package of consistency, speed and racecraft Lewis is as good as it gets. I'd love to have see them up against each other at the peak of their powers.

 

[Hampster Gull]

Senna's first lap at Donnington and some of his wet laps were beyond belief. His qualifying record is unreal and some of the gaps to his team mates are staggering (The average gap to Nakajima was something ridiculous like 3 seconds a lap and he never got within a second) but for the full package of consistency, speed and racecraft Lewis is as good as it gets. I'd love to have see them up against each other at the peak of their powers.

Of all the drivers I’ve seen, i think it came most naturally to Senna. He was sublime, the self belief incredible. Bit that doesn't undermine the other greats, they all had their strengths. I would have loved to have seen him against Hamilton too.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Sir Jim CLARK.

 

[Weststander]

Sir Jim CLARK.

Sir John Sertees.

 

[Leekbrookgull]

Good shout.

 

[rogersix]

The longer this thread goes on, the less I give a sh*t either way, tbh.

look away now

 

[drew]

Been binge watching netflix Drive to Survive. Hats off to those madmen.

As for Sir Lewis, can't be long before he's kneeling before her majesty.

 

[rogersix]

As another F1 fan like me, you’ll be very aware of the racism he and his Dad faced in Spain for example in 2007 and 2008. Blatant, Spaniards dressed as apes, no doubt bitter than this young brilliant driver had emerged as the match to their hero.

No wonder in a climate of racism across Europe, he largely kept his counsel, the lone black guy.

One of the bizarre NSC arguments against LH is that he only recently stood up to racism, a JCL to BLM. Lots of acronyms! Who are we to criticise a victim of racism deciding when he has the courage to finally take a stand? Simply emboldened by the mood music, who can blame him?

spot on; if you can't do everything, it doesn't mean you should do nothing

 

[rogersix]

Nothing to do with the colour of his skin, why are you making such an issue about it? Its everything to do with him using an off shore (BVI) company to buy a £16 million pound jet and avoid paying tax on it. Probably perfectly legal but morally wrong. I would same the same about JRM and many of the other people in power who use loophole to avoid paying their fair share (and I frequently do on other forums). This was specifically about Hamilton receiving a knighthood. I don't think tax evaders should be rewarded/honoured. Just to be absolutely clear if this thread was about Phillip Green and his dodgy wife I would still be venting my spleen. I abhor racism on every level, but I'm not going to say tax evasion is ok because someones black!

and david cameroon?

 

[rogersix]

Mouldy is all about supporting Britain, British achievement, and getting behind being British. Except when it suits him.

we all have to get behind the nation as one, and reject the people that try to divide us.

that's right isn't it [MENTION=2719]Mouldy Boots[/MENTION]?

 

[rogersix]

Farcical giving sports people knighthoods...............

what, just anonymous civil servants for doing their job?

 

[rogersix]

Hammy: Your first sentence says what I have been trying to get across, so no need to go deeper.

I have also said Hamiltons is good but not as good as what his world championships make out? Alonso, Senna, Stewart, Clarke are all ahead of him in my book.

Is he likeable, No, because he has been so good at being an arse IMO, he was maturing until he brought his politics into it?

You guys keep believing he is the best if you wish, but go within motorsport and you might find differing opinions.

Gazza: Paddy Lowe was one of the main men, but he isn't a showboat. So often the guys behind the scenes deserve the plaudits but are the way too modest to lay claim to them. He may respect Hamilton one level, but I am sure there is a bit of what a **** on a different level. He was never going to say anything else.
You will have to trust me when I say I know both sides of the coin, engineer and driver side and a good chunk of the credit should lay with the engineer. If there is a Knighthood they want to give away perhaps they should look Ross Brawns way ahead of Hamilton.

Boldy: you have your summary on me about right. But I don't dislike European people as you think, just the Union. But British people can be arses also you know.

I am going to leave it there guys. Hooray I here you cry.

Of course, your welcome for your comebacks but, that's me done.

even for you

 

[sparkie]

I have a question for the 39.5% of NSC that are clearly a bit racist: what more does Hamilton have to do in his sport to warrant a knighthood?

In the real world that 39.5% may well just think that no one deserves a knighthood just for being good at a sport.