Lewis Hamilton Fills Michael Shumacher's Shoes: It's a Love/Hate Relationship

            Following the 2006 Formula 1 season, fans, drivers, teams, journalists, and anyone else involved with Formula 1 said goodbye to possibly the greatest driver in the sport’s history in Michael Schumacher, who retired after completely rewriting the F1 record book. When he left, all who loved the sport wondered which driver would step in and replace him. Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, and Felipe Massa were poised to capitalize on Schumacher’s retirement and assert themselves as the best drivers on the grid.

However, something remained missing. Schumacher was one of the most dynamic personalities that formula 1 had ever seen; replacing him involved more than simply being a good driver. Commentator Bob Varsha said it best in a tribute to him: “Love him or hate him, you could never ignore him.”

Who would fill that specific role in the post-Schumacher era? Kimi Raikkonen? No; he may be the fastest driver in F1, but his lack of personality and enthusiasm makes people too indifferent to him.

Fernando Alonso? No; he was still seen as a hero after defeating Schumacher in a straight fight for the 2006 championship He was too popular at the time for anyone to hate him.

Felipe Massa? Again, no. He’s too jovial for any fans to ever dislike him. Plus, he tugged on the heart strings of many by winning his home grand prix and flying his country’s flag, invoking memories of his hero Ayrton Senna.

None of them could have the persona Schumacher had. Fortunately for F1, the search was soon over as one driver stepped into the role of being a driver fans either love or hate. That driver is Lewis Hamilton.

            How has Hamilton gained that status? After all, he’s still an infant in terms of his F1 experience.

First, let’s look at the good in him. He stepped into a high quality ride and immediately achieved results. He was not intimidated by his double world champion teammate, Fernando Alonso, and ended up showing more maturity as the season progressed than Alonso, who disgraced himself by trying to blackmail Ron Dennis and the Mclaren team. When the story was “What will happen without Schumacher?” Hamilton gave people a fresh face to watch and new rising star when the sport needed one.

Additionally, Hamilton was regarded as an underdog in 2007; a rookie is not supposed to have 12 podiums, 5 poles, and 4 wins. Nor is a rookie supposed to assert himself as an immediate title threat, especially against a more experienced teammate who had just won his second championship. Hamilton did all of those things, and gained the admiration and praise of many.

On top of it all, he seems to be as genuine in his excitement and passion as anyone who has ever raced. In an era when Formula 1 has been criticized for being “snobby” and its drivers being “robots,” Hamilton’s genuine excitement and happiness to race is more than welcome.

Now, have a look at the bad. As a result of his early and frequent success, broadcasters, notably those of ITV, have developed a heavy bias toward him, already claiming that he will be next Senna ( a real stretch considering he’s only in his second year). Such attention has caused fans to resent him, thinking he hasn’t yet earned such a comparison and, despite being talented, has yet to do anything to justify the hype (after all, he didn’t win the 2007 driver’s championship). Call it jealousy, anger, or resentment, but it is clear that the attention Hamilton gets is wearing thin on many fans, with their anger turning toward both the broadcasters and Hamilton himself.

Another factor is his team: Mclaren. Until 2007, this was not a negative in the least. However, spygate cast a big shadow over the team and its drivers, with many calling them cheaters and claiming Hamilton’s success came because of the apparent Ferrari data that found its way into Mclaren.  

Further, many fans have attributed his success to his Mclaren team, one of the best and most successful ones in the history of motorsports, and even to driver Fernando Alonso, regarded as one of best at developing a car. Given those aspects, why shouldn’t he have been able to compete for wins and podiums off the bat? This is especially highlighted due to Alonso’s departure from Mclaren and the team’s performance, as well as Hamilton’s, taking a downturn this season. Maybe they are missing Alonso after all.

Also, Hamilton has now showed some cockiness in his attitude, present in his “apology” to Kimi Raikkonen following their collision in the Canadian Grand Prix and his refusal to admit he deserved a penalty for short-cutting a chicane while trying to pass Sebastian Vettel in France. That, coupled with Hamilton’s finish to the 2007 season, makes many spectators see him as overrated and not worth the attention.

            Lewis Hamilton is the most hyped and immediately successful driver since Jacques Villeneuve when he came into Formula 1 in 1996. However, we all know how Jacque’s career panned out. Instead of marked by great accomplishment, he’s remembered for an abrasive personality and questionable decisions. It remains uncertain whether Hamilton will go on to be one of the greatest and most accomplished drivers in history, or end up as Villeneuve, Juan Montoya, Ralf Schumacher, David Coulthard, and many others who, despite an abundance of talent, never lived up to expectations. One thing is for sure though. He has stepped in and filled one of the gaps in the post-Michael Schumacher era. As Bob Varsha described Schumacher, Hamilton is a driver who fans either love or hate, but cannot ignore.