Japan '07 is a fun one for those of us who are labelled "Hamilton Haters™" by the retarded squealing tossers that seem to inhabit most corners of the internet (please note - I am not talking about anyone on here with that comment). Hamilton netted himself a "trial by Youtube" post-race, for behaviour that can only be described as "******* retarded". He played silly buggers behind the pace car (accelerating then slowing down slightly hard on the racing line, on a wet track), and caused an accident that took out Webber and Vettel. Vettel got the penalty (later rescinded), Hamilton got off scot-free.
Now....I'm no expert, but as far as I'm aware there's a rule about causing an avoidable accident in F1. And that one was very much avoidable if Hamilton hadn't been a complete dick. This is what makes it hard for me to rate him higher than I already do (i.e. high enough to get all these hooting knobbers off my case....).
He's a great driver, no question. He's fast, he can adjust to changes in the track/weather/car in a snap, and he's proven that he can beat The Petulant Spanish Git™ in equal cars.
And yet....there are moments where you have to question just what the hell is going on with him. Brazil '07 - why try and attack Alonso the way he did? He was always going to go skating off the track. Being in his rookie season is no excuse - that's the sort of thing you learn waaaaaaaaaaay before F1. Bahrain '08 - he had a shocker. Hit his former team mate and never really recovered. Canada - the least said the better, that was just beyond belief. Anyone who crashes into the back of a stationary car in the pitlane with a red light in operation deserves every bit of derision they get. France - again, a shocker. He'd been down the order on account of Canada and got himself worked up.
And there are even more subtle things going on that make me wonder about him. Take Valencia. He had the flu, so didn't really get on terms with Massa at all. The flu. Now, having had proper, full-on flu I can almost sympathise. But come on....he's supposed to be The Messiah™! Christ....Sir Stirling Moss won the '58 Argentinian GP one eyed (he had a bad scrape on his cornea) with a broken clutch and without changing tyres or refuelling in a rather underpowered car. Nigel Mansell ran his first F1 race with his rear end immersed in fuel (giving him 1st and 2nd degree burns), and later ran a race (Hungary '88) while suffering from chickenpox which did him no good at all.
Hamilton is the real deal, and he will win a championship. But he's not quite right yet. He makes fundamental mistakes right when it really matters, and he simply shouldn't if he wants the title this year.
