Lewis Hamilton

[jestaudio 0]

I would,nt hold your breath, i reckon he may just take a chance if Merc confirm they will be around in the long term, plus big rule changes in 2014, we all know what happened last time around after seeing Macca and Ferrari racing in 18th

[Rainmaster 7]

Well, a lot of people have observed how well Hammy took this loss, in contrast to how badly he took his Monza win. Does that mean everything is sorted? His comments did not sound like the comments of a man on the way out. I wouldn't be surprised if he accepted Macca's offer after the Italian GP.

[Insider 0]

If he accepts anything, including an improved offer from Macca, it won't be just yet. XIX think he is certainly worth more than £15m. Alonso is reportedly on £22m and they will be looking for parity. Jenson is on £10m and Woking did not want a massive salary gap between drivers. I understand that, irrespective of people's opinions of JB. Hamilton certainly didn't earn his dosh last year and though there appears to be a major improvement in maturity, he has had his moments of dummy spitting this year too. He is quicksilver quick but so is Mad Donald, the Hulk and Grosjean, not to mention Perez. I believe that if he's staying at Macca we'll get an announcement this week or next. If he's off to Mercedes, now re-charged by firm board support, he'll not announce that until it's no longer mathematically possible to win the WDC.

[LabradoRacer 2]

Apparently, Macca has matched Mercedes's offer. Hope they don't match Mercedes's car though.

[Insider 0]

Apparently, Macca has matched Mercedes's offer. Hope they don't match Mercedes's car though.

Yes, please spare us that. I'm trying to track a source but there are stories coming out of the US that Mercedes have spoken to Sutil. Bizarre.

[Guest]

I'm sure Merc and Macca have spoken to lots of drivers (and their representatives). They would be negligent not to have a few options. I still feel uneasy about the XIX group in all this. Their percentage is the highest of all the management companies (allegedly up to 50%).........but that's because they can generate huge revenue streams given the freedom to do so. (freedom Macca simply cannot accommodate).

If Lewis opts to stay with Macca, he may be forced to pay off XIX (as I'm sure they'll pursue him for loss of earnings) ...and that would leave a big hole in his finances, even by F1 standards.

So the REAL choice seems to be.........Macca (good car and a massive real terms pay cut, regardless of what they offer) or Merc (crappy car, but big pay rise)

What would you do?????

He may well have backed himself into a financial corner...........the end winner will be Mr Fuller.

[LabradoRacer 2]

Exsqueeze me?? I may be ugly and loose, but I am not a woman.

That explains why you don't ever suffer from constipation.

[Massa 0]

What would you do?????

If he turns down a higher offer, he's silly.

Hamilton's value may never be this high again. He has to cash in. I'd cash in.

The lesser-paying option isn't a "nobler" option; driving for McLaren and driving for Mercedes are both incredibly pointless, incredibly low-contributing (in a societal regard), incredibly self-serving jobs (and there is nothing wrong with that). There are lesser-paying career changes he could make that might be noble, but switching employers to do the same job? Nope. Wanting to selfishly win more races is not a "noble" cause. Entertaining to us to watch those pursuits, but not noble.

So, cash in. I'd sleep a lot better at night knowing I left wins on the table than I would knowing I left money on it. You win the race once and then it's all gone and over. You earn the money and then it lingers for some great purpose (raising a family, investing in/backing some great cause or idea, contributing to the greater welfare of the world by participating in the economy, whatever) or for some ignorant, foolish waste (but at the same time, blowing all your money on stupid things is creating jobs for people who sell, market, produce, etc. stupid things so you can feel good about what you're doing ), but either way, it's there after you earn it and used how you want it to be. If I had the choice of either breaking every record Michael Schumacher set or earning more money than any other F1 driver before me, I'd take the latter without hesitation. Your children can't inherit your Grand Prix wins when you're gone...your pole positions aren't funding research grants...your fastest laps aren't lifting people out of poverty...but every day private parties' money contributes to those things...so you're selfish if you don't maximize income because your expenditures and investments and tax payments do good things.

A driver should care about winning when he/she is racing. But negotiating contracts? F1's temporary and outside of one's own ego, wins are pretty hollow.

(Well, you asked what I'd do... )

[Rainmaster 7]

I'd go for glory rather than money. Besides, going for the better option results wise (Mclaren) will probably result in earning more long term anyway. You don't have much of a Hamilton "brand" if he's not winning any races. It's also true that a Mclaren salary is still plenty enough to do everything you want, e.g. buy a yacht, get those cool Dr.Dre Beats headphones, raise a family, etc (that list does go in order of priority, fyi).

So if it were me I would pretend I was seriously interested in joining another team and drive extremely well to underline my value, then Mclaren would offer me an improved deal financially whilst also providing more chance of success. Actually, maybe Lewis isn't as dumb as we think?

[Quiet One 15]

If he turns down a higher offer, he's silly.

Hamilton's value may never be this high again. He has to cash in. I'd cash in.

The lesser-paying option isn't a "nobler" option; driving for McLaren and driving for Mercedes are both incredibly pointless, incredibly low-contributing (in a societal regard), incredibly self-serving jobs (and there is nothing wrong with that). There are lesser-paying career changes he could make that might be noble, but switching employers to do the same job? Nope. Wanting to selfishly win more races is not a "noble" cause. Entertaining to us to watch those pursuits, but not noble.

So, cash in. I'd sleep a lot better at night knowing I left wins on the table than I would knowing I left money on it. You win the race once and then it's all gone and over. You earn the money and then it lingers for some great purpose (raising a family, investing in/backing some great cause or idea, contributing to the greater welfare of the world by participating in the economy, whatever) or for some ignorant, foolish waste (but at the same time, blowing all your money on stupid things is creating jobs for people who sell, market, produce, etc. stupid things so you can feel good about what you're doing ), but either way, it's there after you earn it and used how you want it to be. If I had the choice of either breaking every record Michael Schumacher set or earning more money than any other F1 driver before me, I'd take the latter without hesitation. Your children can't inherit your Grand Prix wins when you're gone...your pole positions aren't funding research grants...your fastest laps aren't lifting people out of poverty...but every day private parties' money contributes to those things...so you're selfish if you don't maximize income because your expenditures and investments and tax payments do good things.

A driver should care about winning when he/she is racing. But negotiating contracts? F1's temporary and outside of one's own ego, wins are pretty hollow.

(Well, you asked what I'd do... )

Except you won't.

Ted Turner once said "Life is a game. Money is how we keep score". Granted, there are few a##holes bigger than Turner, but even if that does not apply to life in general, it does apply to work (in general). Past the level of subsistance (the level I am still sadly stuck), money is not anymore a means of living, but a symbolic retribution and recognition from your work by the people that pays you.

Is it idiotic, and totally inefficient way in a world were the vast majority does not earn enough to eat? Certainly, but that's capitalism (and communism as well!) for you. I do not endorse this way of thinking but "it is what it is"

Lewis, being no Che Guevara, works under that same logic, IMHO. So, in his eyes, being forced to take a pay cut means that they don't consider him the Número Uno anymore (not that they ever did, McLaren has no number one never no no no I swear they are so fair!) and also, that they rate him half as much as Alonso and (I guess this hurts even more) Massa are being considered right now.

Is not about money as means of living. Is money as a measure of his achievements. None of them, not even the less paid, must have any complaints about money not being enough to pay their plumber's bill. It's about "hey...how come Alonso earns 20 gazillion dollars a second and I earn only 1?" Because we need to rebuild your car every other weekend and you can't tell your brake from your gas, Nelsinho...now get lost...crash into a wall for all I care!" And so he did

This is my own view on Lewis view, of course. It does not mean it is the actual truth, but it is better than your view, Eric, simply because I am more mature and I HAVE 10,000 POSTS AND YOU DON'T NEENER NEENER!!!

There.

[LabradoRacer 2]

If he turns down a higher offer, he's silly.

Hamilton's value may never be this high again. He has to cash in. I'd cash in.

The lesser-paying option isn't a "nobler" option; driving for McLaren and driving for Mercedes are both incredibly pointless, incredibly low-contributing (in a societal regard), incredibly self-serving jobs (and there is nothing wrong with that). There are lesser-paying career changes he could make that might be noble, but switching employers to do the same job? Nope. Wanting to selfishly win more races is not a "noble" cause. Entertaining to us to watch those pursuits, but not noble.

So, cash in. I'd sleep a lot better at night knowing I left wins on the table than I would knowing I left money on it. You win the race once and then it's all gone and over. You earn the money and then it lingers for some great purpose (raising a family, investing in/backing some great cause or idea, contributing to the greater welfare of the world by participating in the economy, whatever) or for some ignorant, foolish waste (but at the same time, blowing all your money on stupid things is creating jobs for people who sell, market, produce, etc. stupid things so you can feel good about what you're doing ), but either way, it's there after you earn it and used how you want it to be. If I had the choice of either breaking every record Michael Schumacher set or earning more money than any other F1 driver before me, I'd take the latter without hesitation. Your children can't inherit your Grand Prix wins when you're gone...your pole positions aren't funding research grants...your fastest laps aren't lifting people out of poverty...but every day private parties' money contributes to those things...so you're selfish if you don't maximize income because your expenditures and investments and tax payments do good things.

A driver should care about winning when he/she is racing. But negotiating contracts? F1's temporary and outside of one's own ego, wins are pretty hollow.

(Well, you asked what I'd do... )

Going with a lesser paying but champion team will earn you more money via endorsements & stuff.

[Insider 0]

I'm sure Merc and Macca have spoken to lots of drivers (and their representatives). They would be negligent not to have a few options. I still feel uneasy about the XIX group in all this. Their percentage is the highest of all the management companies (allegedly up to 50%).........but that's because they can generate huge revenue streams given the freedom to do so. (freedom Macca simply cannot accommodate).

If Lewis opts to stay with Macca, he may be forced to pay off XIX (as I'm sure they'll pursue him for loss of earnings) ...and that would leave a big hole in his finances, even by F1 standards.

So the REAL choice seems to be.........Macca (good car and a massive real terms pay cut, regardless of what they offer) or Merc (crappy car, but big pay rise)

What would you do?????

He may well have backed himself into a financial corner...........the end winner will be Mr Fuller.

I couldn't have put it better. It's about as bad as record deals got in the 50s. Fuller is a leech.

[JHS18 0]

If he turns down a higher offer, he's silly.

Hamilton's value may never be this high again. He has to cash in. I'd cash in.

The lesser-paying option isn't a "nobler" option; driving for McLaren and driving for Mercedes are both incredibly pointless, incredibly low-contributing (in a societal regard), incredibly self-serving jobs (and there is nothing wrong with that). There are lesser-paying career changes he could make that might be noble, but switching employers to do the same job? Nope. Wanting to selfishly win more races is not a "noble" cause. Entertaining to us to watch those pursuits, but not noble.

So, cash in. I'd sleep a lot better at night knowing I left wins on the table than I would knowing I left money on it. You win the race once and then it's all gone and over. You earn the money and then it lingers for some great purpose (raising a family, investing in/backing some great cause or idea, contributing to the greater welfare of the world by participating in the economy, whatever) or for some ignorant, foolish waste (but at the same time, blowing all your money on stupid things is creating jobs for people who sell, market, produce, etc. stupid things so you can feel good about what you're doing ), but either way, it's there after you earn it and used how you want it to be. If I had the choice of either breaking every record Michael Schumacher set or earning more money than any other F1 driver before me, I'd take the latter without hesitation. Your children can't inherit your Grand Prix wins when you're gone...your pole positions aren't funding research grants...your fastest laps aren't lifting people out of poverty...but every day private parties' money contributes to those things...so you're selfish if you don't maximize income because your expenditures and investments and tax payments do good things.

A driver should care about winning when he/she is racing. But negotiating contracts? F1's temporary and outside of one's own ego, wins are pretty hollow.

(Well, you asked what I'd do... )

If money was that important, I think Hamilton would do something other than racing in F1, because let's be honest, there are several professions that offer a safer life and would earn you more money than being an F1 driver does.

Hamilton's probably got enough money from his already short time in F1 to last him well for the rest of his life - chasing big pay checks over performance just looks bad when you're in a world like Formula One.

I remember one driver (can't recall who it was off the top of my head, so I'll avoid attributing it to anyone for now in case it is wrong) who said that money is just a by-product of the sport/business they're all in. Look at Jenson Button, I still vividly recall his first time on Top Gear before he'd even won his first race when Clarkson asked whether he'd jack the Monte Carlo lifestyle, the money and everything that went with it in to get that first win. Jenson said he would 100%, and later said that "having so many million in the bank isn't going to excite my grandchildren - it is better to say you are the best in the world at something."

I guess that's just the mentality most drivers have. They're not going to turn down the money they earn, but likewise it isn't why they all started racing in the first place.

I think it was telling that Hamilton himself said a few months ago about how keeping the trophies would be an important area in negotiating a contract. So yes, whilst you're true that once you win it is already in the past, it still does mean something to these guys.

Saying that, I doubt any of us can pretend to understand what goes on in an F1's drivers mind, otherwise I suspect most people on this forum would be a Formula One driver already.

[Massa 0]

Going with a lesser paying but champion team will earn you more money via endorsements & stuff.

It could. It doesn't guarantee you win, and it doesn't guarantee that winning leads to endorsements or projects a better image. He hasn't exactly been the dominator at McLaren he was supposed to be, and he will always be a popular driver connecting with a good demographic. I understand the argument that you have a higher capacity to earn income post-F1 if you were a winner, but in a sport with short careers, high risk, and changing regulations on the horizon, I'd take the money.

I still expect Hamilton and McLaren to work out a deal, though, for what it's worth, which isn't much, but is probably worth more than my personal views on money and how greed doesn't exist and how morality doesn't exist either and how selflessness doesn't exist either and how the U.S. needs to get out of the 1970s in terms of globalization and just accept we aren't a country that makes stereos, cars, and plastic toys anymore but have the education system of one that isn't qualified to do much else and blah blah blah. There's another forum for teenagers who think they know everything about everything and I'm sure it's populated by all the other students I've taken watered-down seminar classes filled with idealist half-truths and partial-lies in university.

But I have to stick with what I said months ago, which was that the top teams would go unchanged, simply because that feels right.

[Massa 0]

If money was that important, I think Hamilton would do something other than racing in F1, because let's be honest, there are several professions that offer a safer life and would earn you more money than being an F1 driver does.

Hamilton's probably got enough money from his already short time in F1 to last him well for the rest of his life - chasing big pay checks over performance just looks bad when you're in a world like Formula One.

I remember one driver (can't recall who it was off the top of my head, so I'll avoid attributing it to anyone for now in case it is wrong) who said that money is just a by-product of the sport/business they're all in. Look at Jenson Button, I still vividly recall his first time on Top Gear before he'd even won his first race when Clarkson asked whether he'd jack the Monte Carlo lifestyle, the money and everything that went with it to get that first win. Jenson said he would 100%, and later said that "having so many million in the bank isn't going to excite my grandchildren - it is better to say you are the best in the world at something."

I guess that's just the mentality most drivers have. They're not going to turn down the money they earn, but likewise it isn't why they all started racing in the first place.

Saying that, I doubt any of us can pretend to understand what goes on in an F1's drivers mind, otherwise I suspect most people on this forum would be a Formula One driver already.

I have no idea what Hamilton thinks; you're correct. But I don't personally agree with anyone in the profession of "Formula One driver" who is not going after guaranteed money in a job where few things are probable and careers are short. My disagreement doesn't mean anything to anyone and I know that, but I still wouldn't agree if he signed for a team offering him less than any other team was. If Ferrari offered $20,000,000 to be Alonso's clear-cut number two and McLaren offered me $19,999,999 to be their clear-cut leader, I'd sign with Ferrari. And as soon as my grandchildren gave up listening to me blabber about how great of a driver I was in some sport that's so radically altered or even obsolete by the time I can tell them about it, I'd get their attention back by taking that extra $1 per year and splitting amongst them.

But you know how much Hamilton's thinking of prospective grandchildren right now? I'm willing to bet not at all.

(And therefore he's wrong).

[Guest]

in recent years Simon Fuller has seen his personal fortune top $560m, while ron dennis has seen his drop to less then $300m.

Macca wasted over a billion dollars developing a "supercar" that Simon Fullers clients should be buying.........but in truth, they'd all rather buy a ferrari.

That's the real reason why Macca cannot offer more.....not because their sponsorship revenue is down by 2%, but because they almost went bust trying to become a british Ferrari (ironically...Ferari needed bailing out by Fiat, and Macca could have been bailed out by Merc, but uncle Ron has this strange vision in his head). This at the same time as Merc bucked the global downward trend to post their highest profits ever.

I would say the momentum is clearly with Simon Fuller............so for that reason alone, Lewis should become Mr Fuller's best buddy, and hopefully his best earner.

FFS.......Lewis is a fast, black WDC with a pussycat gf..........he should already be worth more than his manager.

[BradSpeedMan 6]

in recent years Simon Fuller has seen his personal fortune top $560m, while ron dennis has seen his drop to less then $300m.

Macca wasted over a billion dollars developing a "supercar" that Simon Fullers clients should be buying.........but in truth, they'd all rather buy a ferrari.

That's the real reason why Macca cannot offer more.....not because their sponsorship revenue is down by 2%, but because they almost went bust trying to become a british Ferrari (ironically...Ferari needed bailing out by Fiat, and Macca could have been bailed out by Merc, but uncle Ron has this strange vision in his head). This at the same time as Merc bucked the global downward trend to post their highest profits ever.

I would say the momentum is clearly with Simon Fuller............so for that reason alone, Lewis should become Mr Fuller's best buddy, and hopefully his best earner.

FFS.......Lewis is a fast, black WDC with a pussycat gf..........he should already be worth more than his manager.

now u talkin!

[Grabthaw the Hammerslayer 4]

If Ferrari offered $20,000,000 to be Alonso's clear-cut number two and McLaren offered me $19,999,999 to be their clear-cut leader, I'd sign with Ferrari.

Why?

[Quiet One 15]

Why?

He is Massa.

[Massa 0]

Why?

Two reasons.

1. I know I am making $1 every year that would only be conditional at McLaren on endorsements, which would be conditional on me being both a good driver and not being a jerk. I am both a bad driver and a jerk. No one would want me to represent them.

2. I have to do less to keep my contract at Ferrari to keep making that $20,000,000 over and over again. If I don't win the championship at McLaren, my contract will soon disappear. A number two has lower expectations in general, but using Felipe as the standard, they have zero expectations at Ferrari.

But I guess Lewis Hamilton is a good driver and isn't a jerk, so #1 doesn't apply. And I guess Lewis Hamilton probably likes winning races even if I think he should like money more, so #2 probably doesn't apply as much as it would for me...

[Grabthaw the Hammerslayer 4]

I suppose Eric it is fair to say I always saw you as a "number 2"

(you walked right into that one buddy!!! ) I like writing this small, by the way as it really strains Andres' overly self-abused eyes

OK, except for one small point.....

If you are number 1 in McLaren you stand a chance of winning a world championship, nicking another driver's hot girlfriend, signing a multi-gazillion deal with a watch-maker, buying a private jet and then moving to Ferrari as a number one driver.... win another championship, buy a villa in Ecuador, Romania, India and California (as the first letters of the countries would spell your name), shag Tamara Ecclestone, then go on a losing streak, take three years out having wild parties and re-enter F1 in a blaze of glory as number one driver in the General VolkShubisi Team (car manufacturer who enters F1 thinking they will be winners in two seasons). Drive there for 3 years never getting higher than 5th, blaming the tyres and ignoring the performance of your faster, younger team mate ("...ah, but my skill is in car development..."), stay on two years too long, then retire in a huge fuss. Only to be brought back in as a team adviser to Mercedes....

Or, you can be Massa and be remembered as number 2 driver who was occasionally allowed to win races and almost won the championship. once...

[dribbler 6]

I have been thinking this morning aobut a couple of things;

1. How Hamilton not signing one way or the other has had so many people criticising his integrity, judgement, aspirations and everything else. If it were you or I quietly trying to decide whether to change dental practioners after having used one for many years, we would surely decide it's our right to take as long as we want. We may also make the point that it doesn't mean we are necessarily dispondent with our old dentist, merely that it is good practice to weigh up all options available to us.

2. On the flip side, Michael Schumacher's devotion to the cause between 1996-2000 was an example of how to show total team unity when there are desperate situations going on all around you. You might suggest that Alonso has acted the same way since joing Ferrari too. Their respective patience was surely boosted by having already demonstrated to the world their credentials from former glories. Hamilton has this too and he also has the benefit of seeing an upward trend in car performance, surely taking him to his ultimate goal; another title. Teams make mistakes and McLaren have made their share this year, but then so has he. He would do well right now to be patient. Or maybe we saw this in singapore already?......

[LabradoRacer 2]

Apparently, the Lewis saga will end tomorrow. Going by Ross Brawn's statement about Mercedes having to make a difficult decision about Schumi...sigh.

I'm off to pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to allow Schumi to keep racing in 2013.

[Guest]

Apparently, the Lewis saga will end tomorrow. Going by Ross Brawn's statement about Mercedes having to make a difficult decision about Schumi...sigh.

I'm off to pray to the Flying Spaghetti Monster to allow Schumi to keep racing in 2013.

Surely, the only DIFFICULT decision is letting schumi go......it would be an EASY decision to re-sign him. He's still better than most on the grid, and is only financially less attractive than Alonso and mmmmmmmmmm Lewis. I'll actually miss the old git. All I can say is........Lewis had better drive the wheels off that Merc next year.

[Guest]

Am I also correct in thinking that Kimi's option (to move on favorable terms) expires on the 30th Sept. and now Macca have showed the world (and Kimi's money grabbing management) just how much they have to spend on a driver ..............doh!

Fact...........they'll need a top drawer name to replace Lewis and keep their sponsors appeased. (and the only names that could compare for global popularity are Kimi and Schumi.........no offence, but Jens is just boring)

Of course this is all just coincidence............isn't it?