Hamilton thinks F1 taking 'step back' with new rules next year
May 21 - Lewis Hamilton is not sure if the current generation of Formula 1 drivers is "bad".
But he does think the sport is going through an era that might be referred to as a "billionaire kids club".
The seven time world champion is undoubtedly referring to the likes of Lance Stroll, Nicholas Latifi and Nikita Mazepin, but also Lando Norris, Mick Schumacher and others - who all have millionaires or billionaires as fathers.
"I don't know if what I think matters much, and I don't know if I can judge if it's a good or a bad generation," 36-year-old Hamilton told the Spanish sports daily AS.
"In my case, I arrived with Nico (Rosberg) and Kubica, Alonso was just before me, there was the Schumacher era - there will always be an era. For me personally, we live in a time when this has become a billionaire kids club.
"If I was to start over, from a working class family it would be impossible for me to be here today. Because the other boys would have a lot more money.
"We have to work to change that and make this an accessible sport, for the rich but also for the people from a more humble background," the Mercedes driver added.
In the final year before the all-new 2022 cars debut, Hamilton also seems unimpressed with the direction of the F1 regulations.
"If you're in Formula 1, you have to understand the technology, the complications of the budget cap, how difficult it will be to develop from now on," said the Briton.
"I did a test with the 18-inch tyres to understand what the difference is - how it will affect me as a driver. The cars will be heavier and slower and that seems like a step back to me," Hamilton admitted.
"We should be faster and more efficient - these cars were better when they were lighter. But the people in charge have made their decisions and there is nothing we can do about it."
✅ Check out more posts with related topics:
He gets on my nerves, started karting at 8 ok, but by 13yr his whole career was RonDennis funded, im not entirely sure he was " working class " reading up on him, whats this humble tripe bloke just gets on nerves, and i suspect in the uk at least hes winning no new fans, but also hes sounding a bit like this could be his quitting reason for 22. Motorsports expensive and even for teenagers doing motocross/karts, money talks even at club leval Rant over Grrrr
Oh keep ranting Super Fly. Let thy propensity for envy shine green and bright Lol. It's amusing.
Jax shouldnt you be in Monaco, bringing Toto his lunch and mopping his brow ?
Actually it should be Dr Toto, as hes now attained the same status as Dr Marko, the godfather of F1,
You need help shroppyfly, prefer mazeaspin or other rich kids getting the drives do you. Does dreaming up LH hate rants keep you awake at night.
its sod all to do with money , its talent , and yes Lulu had it, id rather be blunt and upfront than weak willed and licking up every bit of B..shit Lewis spouts constantly
Thank you
Working Class? What work did he ever do besides enjoy racing? Lewis in Wonderland and his little dog Toto... ;)
Swede, i think the reference was about his family, rather than LH in particular.
But you cracked me up , i was saving the "Lewis in Wonderland" comment for another time but you beat me to it. lol
Counterpoint: Shrop', yes, HAM was funded by McLaren from age 13, but he showed talent in karts to get that support. Nowadays, if daddy has the $$$ a kid just cruises the lower classes knowing that dad will buy him a seat in the big show. SCH is a different matter. He is a legacy driver, kinda' like getting into Harvard with a B average 'cuz dad graduated cum laude.
Agreed that HAM's 'humble' BS is a bit tiring. Social media and lousy journos are the real culprit. 24 hr. news cycles rather than timely race reporting. Blame us, we suck it up like a sponge.
hamilton is luckier than most of the ghetto,at least he knows who his daddy is
The calming words of a sensible mind ahhhhh RoR What would i do without you, Jax would have us married but i think not lol
Also to your point the Fia super licence seems to be the issue accrue enough points add a rich daddy and off you go, my beef unsurprisingly is with Lucys holier than though attitude, pop him in a room with eddie irvine and let them thrash it out i say, talent will win through, ok a new kart or dirk bike every year helps but "working class" and "council estate" upbringing nolonger have the same meaning as 25yrs ago
And can i add, I feel humble , properly 100% humbled, dyo see what i did there , im calling that a "lulu"
And like clockwork, the Old Racer appears as the voice of reason to cousel his trusted but erratic sidekick the Super Fly Lol. Dynamic duo.
You're alright in my book Old fella, but you may need to school your sidekick as how NOT to get triggered by the Hammer.
Dr Toto says, can you pick him up at 8am and dont be late , but give the motor a wash first, thats a good lad, to be fair i didnt know Uber had an office in Monaco , Jax-Cars your friendly (well sorta friendly) local taxi service.
I have never before been described as a voice of reason, nor reasonable in any way. I'll sharpen it up a bit. I thrive on disagreement. BTW Jax, I am in Monte Carlo. Can you arrange an audience with Toto and HAM? I have some suggestions for their Sunday excuses following their loss.
To late RoR, Tontos new bezzie mate Nico is taking them the casino, see Jax there are other ways to lose millions apart from cowering down to Lewises salary demands.
Money Money Money it's all the manufactures that have made this the case
,id point to the promoters and Sky/Pay tv as first people to lay the Money , Money, Money claim on, Oldtwit .
All this stuff justs gets boring, people slagging each other off with no factual content whatever ! You should limit these senseless 'conversations'.
C'mon, Doc, sit down and have a pint. Chill a bit. All in fun, friend, all in fun.
Calm down Doctor, its just a bit of light hearted fun between F1 lovers, if you want serious discussion , may i suggest the BMJ (British Medical Journal )
While your hear though doctor , ive got this little rash, now i know you shouldnt google things but it says on the web that it may be caused due to exposure to the Jaxsyndrome, extremely annoying but in itself quite harmless apparently
Smile it doesnt hurt...!!
Very few times I agree with Sir Hamilton, but he’s right. It’s a billionaires club.
We need to admit that banning cigarets/strong alcohol from advertising and sponsoring didn’t help the sport and current F1 management dienst have an idea how to bring up the show.
If we look back we see drivers skill controlling the monsters. Instead we have now high downforce machines which power does not amaze.
Either we reduce downforce (significantly) or increase engine power (significantly). Larger tires doesn’t make difference.
Have they really banned cigarette firm advertising, seems to me although they might be not advertising the Marlboro man, the firms are still spending millions on the vaping side, and same for alcohol, Heineken are still very visual at the F1 Circuits with there 0% message
F1 has always had its element of the gentleman sport. Even at its inception many teams were either funded for the aristocrat driver or the driver of royalty. Some were actually quite talented but they always coexisted with those who rose through the ranks as mechanics then drivers, the most renowned of which was Juan Fangio. With the celebrity, attention and money that the sport commands, it does not seem that it will ever be otherwise. It does not mean that the sport cannot have a competitive field of drivers on a talent based even playing field.
And how did Mick Schumacher's millionaire dad get there? Driving. Don't include a second generation driver with the industry moguls kids. Michael made it on talent, skill and daring. If F! isn't to your liking anymore why don't you take your millions and find a BLM riot to join. No wonder so many folks are sick and tired of your mouth and opinions.
I enjoy the back and forth here and don't mind some over-blown statements. But can we stick to the concept of a level playing field in all sports? No question LH made it with far less financial backing than Stroll, Mazepin and other newbies. Mick S is a different case, and all best to him. But F1 needs to work on its financial/ethical regulations: otherwise we will not be watching real level playing field competition. That would/will make it meanngless.
You should all also know that it’s not just money or no money that decides. In order to race in F1 you need to qualify for a FIA Racine super licence. It has a lot of non-financial requirements as well as getting 40 points in over the past 3 seasons in lower class racing devisions. So all money aside is you haven’t spent your life racing to win. No matter how rich you are you can’t buy points.
Fia super licence introduced 2015
Qualifying predictions please
1
2
3
1 Max, 2 Ham, 3 Nor ;)
Did anyone watch the F2 Sprint Race? Quite entertaing!
well that means that sport is too easy now, if only good founding is enough to push you in to it, imagine if Lance wanted to become tenis player, if he didnt had enough skill no founding could help him, so make cars harder to drive, reduce downforce, increase engine power, reduce car weeight, give them smaller tyres, ban power steering and all electric stuff, maybe even give them manual gear, i remember back in 2012 drivers like MSC adjusting brake bias mid corner in Monaco, that was great to watch, but stupid fia said its dangerous to drive with one hand and banned it... also remove drs!
Hands Jax a box of tissues so he can console Mr Hamilton , Looks like Ror appointment with Tonto ( Sunday evening ) is going to happen hehehe
Hamster had a lot of help from Ron Dennis and McLaren, but where was his loyalty when Merc came calling, it disappeared like steam from a kettle. If Merc would have picked McLarens other 1 time World Champion, Jenson Button, we wouldn't have to listen to the cry baby waa waa complaining Hamster spews out when everything doesn't go his way.
I absorb all the comments my fellow F1 fans write.
I love the variety of options expressed.
Some I agree with and others I don't.
All the hype about BLM, kneeling etc being foisted on us leaves me cold and are pleased to remain a free thinking individual.
There were a number of world champions from humble backgrounds but some were more equal than others
A level playing field can only enhance the sport. I hope the FIA are listening
If Lewis Hamilton said "I like puppies" posters on his board would attack him for not liking kittens.
Shall I ? i mean its so obvious im really tempted............no ive decided to try and be good today.
Take Daddy's money out and you would have an entirely different field and you would have less teams able to run.
Talent will always rise to the top.
F1 has always in the past been about development and innovation not driving cookie cutter cars.
Lighter, faster, safer, etc. why not showcase the brightest and best in the world?
✅ Checkout the latest 50 F1 Fans comments.