[Other Sport] Lewis Hamilton the greatest living British sportsman?

[Wozza]

jim clark.

The one who DIED in 1968?

 

[theroyal]

Not read the whole thread but I do think people have a opinion of Hamilton based on his behaviour in his earlier years, up to about 2016 ish. Whiny, bit graceless. In the last few years he is a hugely changed character, grew up a lot and he's a model pro now. We can argue until the cows come home if he's the GOAT or not, but he deserves far more credit than he gets from the British public.

Also - people who call F1 "not a sport" - give me strength. It takes enormous skill, concentration, and physical fitness and endurance. On what planet is that not a sport?

 

[e77]

Try to Spell.

Please do one.

 

[judorichard]

How about Steve?

Personally I would go for Sir Steve Redgrave. He won the Gold Medal in rowing at FIVE consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000! (He probably would have medaled at the 1980 Moscow Olympics but we boycotted it!) He dominated for over 16 years in one of the toughest sports out there. Sir Steve definitely gets my vote for Greatest Living British Sports Person.

 

[Bold Seagull]

It's an impossible question to answer.
He seems to be a big part in the best team in F1 at the moment. He's won the most races ever but do they have the same amount of races or more than previous years. Not a big F1 fan myself so don't know.
Different sports require different skills, obviously!

Micheal Schmacher entered 306 F1 races and won 91.
Lewis Hamilton has entered 262 F1 races and won 92.

Win percentage of wins against entries is a really good gauge:

1 Lewis Hamilton 35.11%
2 Jim Clark 34.25%
3 Michael Schumacher 29.55%
4 Jackie Stewart 27.00%
5 Ayrton Senna 25.31%
6 Alain Prost 25.25%
7 Sebastian Vettel 20.95%
8 Nigel Mansell 16.23%
9 Niki Lauda 14.12%
10 Fernando Alonso 10.19%

 

[Deportivo Seagull]

It’s quite possible to dislike Hamilton and not be racist.

Agreed.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

 

[Joey Jo Jo Jr. Shabadoo]

Personally I would go for Sir Steve Redgrave. He won the Gold Medal in rowing at FIVE consecutive Olympic Games from 1984 to 2000! (He probably would have medaled at the 1980 Moscow Olympics but we boycotted it!) He dominated for over 16 years in one of the toughest sports out there. Sir Steve definitely gets my vote for Greatest Living British Sports Person.

Actually Britain didn't boycott the 1980 Olympics fully, despite the government at the time wanting us to. The BOA allowed each sport to decide if they wanted to send athletes to compete or not. Rowing sent a team and won 1 silver and two bronzes. Steve Redgrave at 18 years of age would have been highly unlikely to have been considered for the team.

 

[saintquin]

Micheal Schmacher entered 306 F1 races and won 91.
Lewis Hamilton has entered 262 F1 races and won 92.

Win percentage of wins against entries is a really good gauge:

1 Lewis Hamilton 35.11%
2 Jim Clark 34.25%
3 Michael Schumacher 29.55%
4 Jackie Stewart 27.00%
5 Ayrton Senna 25.31%
6 Alain Prost 25.25%
7 Sebastian Vettel 20.95%
8 Nigel Mansell 16.23%
9 Niki Lauda 14.12%
10 Fernando Alonso 10.19%

That's quite impressive!

 

[Icy Gull]

Jim CLARK.

Ah, but he had the best car, only ever beaten when it had a mechanical failure. Lotus was the Mercedes of it’s day so if Hamilton can be hit with the best car stick then we have to hit Clark with the same stick surely?

 

[Worried Man Blues]

Ah, but he had the best car, only ever beaten when it had a mechanical failure. Lotus was the Mercedes of it’s day so if Hamilton can be hit with the best car stick then we have to hit Clark with the same stick surely?

They didn't retire in the old days they died, an unlikey risk for Hamilton so he has a longer term in which to win races. I am a Hamilton fan as he is English.

 

[theroyal]

Don't understand the best car argument either. F1 is a team sport, best drivers join the best teams, just as in football the best players join the top teams.


People say that Hamilton wouldn't win the title in a Williams. But that's like criticising Messi for joining Fulham and not winning the Champions League.

 

[zefarelly]

Jim Clark could win in anything., as with Stirling Moss, you cannot compare those drivers. and neither are with us so don't qualify for the OP's debate

 

[Icy Gull]

They didn't retire in the old days they died, an unlikey risk for Hamilton so he has a longer term in which to win races. I am a Hamilton fan as he is English.

I get what you mean but dying young does not bump you the best ever driver standings, surely.

I am old enough to remember Clark, Hill (Phil and Graham), Hawthorn and Moss. My parents used to take me to the Nurburgring as a kid. Bloody wet and cold every time and dull as hell as it was the long circuit at the time and took about 6 mins for the cars to reappear each lap. Surprised it didn’t put me off F1

 

[Icy Gull]

Jim Clark could win in anything., as with Stirling Moss, you cannot compare those drivers. and neither are with us so don't qualify for the OP's debate

That is a very good point that completely passed me by on my previous post

Maybe we should have a thread on best performance in motorsport EVER. I can guarantee we’d still get loads of posts about how it’s a shit sport and I have no interest in it

 

[zefarelly]

Don't understand the best car argument either. F1 is a team sport, best drivers join the best teams, just as in football the best players join the top teams.


People say that Hamilton wouldn't win the title in a Williams. But that's like criticising Messi for joining Fulham and not winning the Champions League.

Quite, and you often find the best drivers over achieve in lesser cars.

as for best sportsman, theiors a big difference between team sports and individual . . . . LH and drivers are an oddity, they're an individual taking all the credit but are useless without the team.

a race series with all entrants building and maintaining their own cars probably wouldn't be quite so entertaining or glamerous and not good TV for many.

 

[zefarelly]

That is a very good point that completely passed me by on my previous post

Maybe we should have a thread on best performance in motorsport EVER. I can guarantee we’d still get loads of posts about how it’s a shit sport and I have no interest in it

Stirling Moss MIlle Miglia was quite impressive, Senna @ Donnington.

there are notable drivers who have won lots by being in the right place/team/car at the right time as well. Anyone who partnered Jacky Icxk for example ;-)

 

[Icy Gull]

Stirling Moss MIlle Miglia was quite impressive, Senna @ Donnington.

there are notable drivers who have won lots by being in the right place/team/car at the right time as well. Anyone who partnered Jacky Icxk for example ;-)

Jackie Oliver

Lucky they were both alive to do it too after this. Notice how health and safety has changed too. Is that Marshall mental?

https://youtu.be/m8qnieWKLGA

 

[Spiros]

I don't have a problem with Hamilton living in Monaco nor his use of his success as a platform for his views, he's earned the right for that IMHO. I agree he is the best F! driver of all time, despite the accusations of always having the best car (which I don't agree with). I just think as an all-round racing driver he is beaten (for the time being) by Jim Clark. But I think they are both beaten by the likes of Wiggins and Froome simply because of the unbelievable physical demands that the cyclist has to deal with. These guys made it to the very top of a sport which we as a country have traditionally ignored until about 10 years ago - Wiggins across different disciplines which require different approaches and Froome just kept going at an unbelievable level for such a long time (and despite suffering horrendous injuries a couple of years ago has come back for more).

I admire Lewis for what he's achieved but am absolutely in awe of what the cyclists have done.

 

[zefarelly]

Last time I took drugs I couldn't even find my bike, respect indeed.

 

[WATFORD zero]

I don't have a problem with Hamilton living in Monaco nor his use of his success as a platform for his views, he's earned the right for that IMHO. I agree he is the best F! driver of all time, despite the accusations of always having the best car (which I don't agree with). I just think as an all-round racing driver he is beaten (for the time being) by Jim Clark. But I think they are both beaten by the likes of Wiggins and Froome simply because of the unbelievable physical demands that the cyclist has to deal with. These guys made it to the very top of a sport which we as a country have traditionally ignored until about 10 years ago - Wiggins across different disciplines which require different approaches and Froome just kept going at an unbelievable level for such a long time (and despite suffering horrendous injuries a couple of years ago has come back for more).

I admire Lewis for what he's achieved but am absolutely in awe of what the cyclists have done.

And they give hope to asthmatics everywhere