From SportingLife.comFormula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone believes Lewis Hamilton ‘saved’ F1 last season. Many predicted the sport would be dull following the retirement of
seven-time World Champion Michael Schumacher at the end of the 2006
season.
However, F1 experienced one of its best seasons in recent history
during 2007 after a closely fought battle between McLaren’s Hamilton
and Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen. The fight for the World Championship was only settled in the final race of the season in Brazil.
Ecclestone believes Hamilton’s emergence was one of the big reasons for the sport’s resurgence.
"We are very pleased with the evolution last season," he told Spanish magazine FHM
"With the departure of Michael Schumacher, the year could have been
disastrous and boring, but fortunately along came a youngster called
Lewis Hamilton and saved the season. It was phenomenal."
Ecclestone also compared Hamilton to Schumacher.
"If it wasn’t for the helmet, when you see Hamilton behind the wheel
you might think it is Schumacher driving. He drives the same way that
the impeccable Schumacher did.
"That is what I have said about Hamilton from the beginning: he doesn’t make mistakes.
"This will be the big year of Hamilton, and I am not saying he
should win the World Championship, but will he will have to prove that
he is competitive."
The F1 boss believes the rivalry between Hamilton and World Champion Kimi Raikkonen can only be beneficial to the sport.
"He (Raikkonen) won the World Champions and demonstrated what a good
driver he is. However, he goes unnoticed because he is so discreet and
never generates publicity around him," Ecclestone said.
"He is the complete opposite of Hamilton, who talks quite a lot.
Hamilton’s attitude benefits us because he draws more attention and
generates more publicity because he likes to talk.
"The rivalry between Raikkonen, Hamilton and others will be very beneficial."
Bernie makes a good point about the publicity aspect of these two drivers (although Kimi’s ‘Iceman’ image is being praised more and more), but Lewis saved Formula One’s popularity last year did he? I thought Kimi saved the sport in general by winning the title, justification against a politically scandalous season and the childish behaviour between the McLaren drivers. And Lewis does make mistakes Bernie, all great drivers do, what sport have you been watching?
FUCK ISRAEL 
Ahhh! I was so annoyed when I read BernieĀ“s comments in Planet-F1.com; who does he think Hamilton is??? Like the Jesus of F1? P-L-E-A-S-E!!! Lewis to me is still a newcomer in some ways, he still has a lot to learn, and besides, HEĀ“S ONLY 22 YEARS OLD!And comparing him to Schumi, mi god, thatĀ“s impossible, he was and is THE GREATEST driver ever; Schumi was in F1 for 15 years and he built an entire team around him, practically from scratch, in order to achieve what he did. Lewis hasnĀ“t achieved anything yet, he still has to win a championship in order to be considered one of the great F1 drivers.And all the "saving the sport" as Bernie says he did, was purely putting on a show of who is the biggest, most pampered brat in the paddock, which he clearly won!He cannot be compared to any of the F1 drivers, past or present, simply because he is too young, doesnĀ“t have enough experience, has still a long way to go, and first and foremost, he is RonĀ“s little spoiled child!!!Kimi is the real talent out there, someone worthy of driving for Ferrari, a man of few words, yes, but thatĀ“s just the way he is, I think we, all the tifosis around the world have already gotten used to the way he is, if Bernie hasnĀ“t, thatĀ“s his problem.Speaking of talents, for me, Kubica is far more talented than Hamilton, even Kovalainen, look at what he can do in a McLaren, I would like to see what Lewis would do driving for Renault or Toro Rosso (which is what is happening to Alonso right now, he is super talented, but doesnĀ“t have the right car).This obviously annoys me very much, and I think IĀ“ve already made my point, so all I have left to say is………………………………KEEP FLYING KIMI-FORZA FERRARI!!!
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Love it, keep these comments coming in!Methinks that Bernie is hyping Lewis up even more to keep the media interest in him high – who can blame him! We, true followers of the sport, all know what he’s saying is bollocks, but the outsiders don’t.
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Hey Saima! Thanks for you r comment, I like commenting on these things very much, because I love your site, but I always wonder why so few people post comments. Come on people!!!You keep up the great work!!!
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Yup, it’s funny how Bernie forget’s that Alonso also finished the championship last year one point behind Kimi. š So it would have been quite an exiting year without Lewis still. But yeah, Bernie is just getting a bit old, and maybe he has realized that it really doesn’t matter what he says nowdays, no one takes him seriosly anyway. ;)Really nice video you sure have made from the Malaysian GP, a joy to watch. And I can understand what it has taken, with movie maker. š You sure are a true fan. Still amazed how someone can like a Finn so much. :DMikko
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Pleasure to meet you ! It’s really cool of your space.I like it and I like formula-1.this season must be very wonderful and exciting.Drivers are under the influence of CT. In my opinion, that should beĀ a good news for us fans of formula-1 .
Let’s lookingĀ forward the next port—baling!
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Hello Bernie??Ā I do not think or feel Hamilton is anything like or near Schumi.Ā And as for Hanilton saving F1 in 2007, I think you better think again.Ā There are many other good drivers on the tracks, and they showed it in 2007.Ā Who won the championship again, Im sure it was not Hamilton.Ā Thanks for the joke Bernie, it was funny.Ā š
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Oh, and I forgot to say I hope Fernando shuts the door on Hamilton this year for what he did to Fernando.Ā May our flying Fin Kimi show Bernie and all others what a great driver can do with a great team.Ā GO KIMI GO!!!!!Ā Kimi, Ferrari AMORE.
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