Alvin's Formula One Blog

Happier at Mercedes? Lewis Hamilton has recently taken to writing for an F1 newspaper column, as so many of his peers before him such as David Coulthard and many others. Below is a re-production of his first column for the BBC in which he is quite personal and frank about his life and issues surrounding it. Some of things we take for granted or just assumed without the knowing the person. I met him and spent a short time with him and his father Anthony in 2007, 2008 and 2009, so I have had the rare opportunity to see a glimpse into the type of person he is. And this article is 80% true, of course nobody is perfect and we do try to hide some stuff. Only we would know 100% of ourselves. But how many people do you know or for that matter how many F1 drivers would you think is this frank about themselves? I know this article is a bit late and some of you have read it already and dissected it a million ways but this is for the benefit of those who have not. For the original...

P15 y'all. Better get used to it. P15??!! WTF?? Yeah, I know what you mean. For all those who are not aware yet, I am a Lewis Hamilton supporter. Not a die hard (maybe Bruce Willis) supporter as sometimes he does wrong (he's only human) and I give him his due shit. I met him in 2007 when he was in Sepang, Malaysia for his second race of his F1 career. I got to know his dad, Anthony well. We had "roti canai" on the streets of Malaysia and I drove them around, well mostly Anthony. So of course I had an interest in his career from the start. The fact that he is a damn fierce racer who throws the car around corners is also the reason why I'm a fan. So yes, I'm surprised as well to see him finish P15. Well, not really. It happens quite a few times with McLaren reliability lately. And with Mercedes, P15 could be his new jam studio. This is what we F1 fans would know and probably accept. Except some of those zombie die hard supporters out there. Yes you know ...

An interesting piece of news, even to me. Anthony Hamilton has not just stopped being Lewis' manager but has opened up a driving academy for aspiring Formula One drivers with Formula One cars managed by Formula One personnel. That sounds hugely interesting. I wonder how it works. Although, the cars will be from the preceding season. The website is here . I knew that Anthony was working on the Lewis Hamilton Academy, a sort of club like what David Beckham did with the David Beckham Football Academy. We almost had a deal going with Sepang last year with that academy but somehow the academy didn't turn out. Or maybe it turned out to be this one. I thought an academy for aspiring drivers would start at karting and provide the necessary help to progress to Formula One but this one sounds like somthing to prepare young drivers to graduate to Formula One itself. Meaning, if you are already in GP2 or F2 or World Series by Renault, then you could enrol in this academy and get the necess...

Hmm, I was quite surprised to learn that Anthony has stopped being Lewis' manager as of this season. I wonder who Lewis will hire to represent him in future, I have no idea at all as I have not been in contact with both of them for quite some time. Lewis said: "I'm 25 now - and I think it was inevitable that there had to be change at some point," "You see, because my dad has always been my manager, and because we've always been working and doing business stuff, I've not fully had that relationship with my dad since when I was maybe a kid and we went radio control car racing - and did it just for fun. Whoever it is, it better be a reputable person and Lewis better introduce him to me..haha. Anyway, we'll find out more when the race comes to Sepang. I will of course try to have lunch with Anthony to catch up on the year that was. I do still believe that Anthony will still continue to play a role and have some influence in decisions Lewis makes in t...

Well, not exactly how one would start a new year would it? And so soon after a birthday, Lewis' birthday to be exact. Somehow, I'm not surprised. As I have said before on this blog, it was one of my earliest posts here too, I know a secret and I'm not telling. That secret has something to do with Lewis and relationships. That secret was told to me by Anthony Hamilton himself over lunch in KL. I can't divulge what it is because I don't want to break my word to Anthony. And Lewis is not gay! It would seem that Nicole is pressed for time. After all, we all are. She needs to settle down as she's pass 30. But it ain't gonna happen with Lewis, that's for sure. Sad for Lewis though. He was so excited about her, he was like a little boy and punching the air while squealing - "My girl is f**king hot!" at the airport last year. Hmm, sounds familiar this, being a little boy I mean. I'm back to being a little boy again cos my girls is hot!

By Jonathan Noble Thursday, May 21st 2009, 22:22 GMT Lewis Hamilton says he has emerged from his tumultuous start to the season a stronger man, after admitting the past few weeks have been 'very tough' for him. Having faced troubles with his car on track, and criticism off it for his involvement in the lying controversy, the world champion has deliberately kept a low profile in recent races. But he ended his self-imposed 'exile' in Monaco on Thursday when he sat down with the British press to chat through his feelings. Speaking in a relaxed and friendly manner, no doubt buoyed by the strong on-track performance of his McLaren around the streets of Monte Carlo, Hamilton said he felt he had grown and learned from the events of the past few weeks. "Yes, definitely," he said. "All these experiences I've had. I am not perfect, I am not a politician, I say things wrong every now and then. I'm sure everyone does. ...

It seems that the horny asshole has got his wish. He's forced Ron out of F1 by constant hammering of McLaren and Lewis Hamilton these past 2 years. He's threatened another big blow on April 29 in Paris based on a major bungling of the FIA and race stewards at Melbourne, Australia. That incident at Melbourne did not have to as far as it did if the incompetent FIA had just used all the technology available to them during races, technology of which they've spent millions on. Max argues about cutting costs but after spending millions on technology for the FIA to manage races, they don't use it. Isn't that a fucking waste? Waste equals costs doesn't it? Or does Max needs somebody to spell it out to him. We all know how much Max hates Ron and everything he does is angled at making life difficult for Ron. These past 2 years have thrown up exciting opportunities for Max to hammer Ron and McLaren and he has taken full advantage of it. The culmination is the stepping do...

RUBBIS ALERT! RUBBISH ALERT! Please informed that this report is rubbish as it was reported by The Daily Mail, a cheap tabloid paper. Read carefully and realise that it is so ridiculous to be true. If that does not convince you, know that I know Anthony personally and this report is utter rubbish. Thursday 16th April 2009 Ron Dennis is reportedly set to announce his complete retirement from McLaren later today as the CEO falls on the sword to save his team ahead of their upcoming hearing with the WMSC. The announcement is bound to be linked to McLaren's on-going battle with the FIA, with Dennis' role in the Liargate scandal expected to be examined closely on April 29 when the team appear in front of the governing body. And although Dennis is no longer the man calling the shots at McLaren, having handed the reigns to Martin Whitmarsh at the start of the season, the 61-year-old is ready to take the fall for McLaren...

OK, I missed it again. It seems that I'm always KERsed..erm..I mean cursed..when it comes to the Malaysian GP. Although I live in KL and always get free tickets (grandstand mind you) I always miss the GP either live at the track or on TV. Either I have to work or have to be somewhere else. The worst part is being at the track but still unable to watch as I'm working...at the track. This year I missed it again. On hindsight, I'm not that miffed. Why? Well thanks to Bernie of course. He had this revelation that having the race at 5pm local time was ordained by God and after the race was stopped (because of the rain), he still insists that 5pm was the right choice. He said the timing was not the problem, the rain was. Duh! Doesn't he know that it always..and I mean ALWAYS..rains here at that time of day? Oh well..forget it..I'm just tired of Bernie. Anyway, the race sucked because of the rain and the race got stopped. Half points were awarded because the race was stopp...

By Simon Strang Saturday, April 4th 2009, 23:43 GMT I can confirm that this report by The Sunday Times is pure rubbish as it doesn't make sense but more importantly, I spoke to Anthony Hamilton today about it and he confirmed that he never spoke to Max about it as reported. The report is total rubbish. Lewis Hamilton considered quitting McLaren, and even Formula 1, over the controversy surrounding his exclusion from last week's Australian Grand Prix, according to a report in The Sunday Times newspaper. The newspaper claims that the world champion was talked out of walking away from the sport by FIA president Max Mosley, after Hamilton contacted the governing body to express his frustration that McLaren had misled him over the affair. The Briton was disqualified from the Melbourne results after the stewards deemed he and McLaren sporting director Dave Ryan had 'deliberately misled' them about a radio conversation that took place after he had passed ...

The Times identifies the most influential people in British sport today. The Power 100 is a distillation from thousands of personalities, who have been judged across five categories: influence on their sports, and the knock-on effect on other sports; influence on the grass roots of sport; influence as crowd-pleasers; the esteem in which they are held by the public or their peers in sport or the sports industry; and, finally, we rated our contenders on a round-up of all the qualities that singled this outstanding century from the rest. 78. Anthony Hamilton Manager of Formula One driver http://www.timesonline.co.uk/ tol/sport/more_sport/ article5548637.ece The former British Rail worker from Stevenage, Hertfordshire, could never have known when he put his young son in a go-kart that he would turn into sport's hottest ticket. He continues to manage Lewis, the Formula One world champion, showing no sign that eventually he might be out of his depth. To judge from his son...

Wednesday 5th November 2008 Lewis Hamilton has praised the impact of father Anthony in helping him become Formula One World Champion. Anthony has been the one constant in Lewis' life since he started out on the road to title glory at the age of eight in karting. Supporting what began as a hobby, despite financial hardship, Anthony played not only the fatherly role, but was also an advisor and mentor, even a mechanic as he also repaired the karts. As Lewis then worked his way through the various categories and ultimately into F1 with McLaren, Anthony has remained by his side, and now also serves as his manager. When asked as to what his dad had meant to him over the years en route to becoming champion, it was not an easy question for him to answer as Anthony was stood just a few feet away. With emotion in his voice, he initially replied: "He's been an inspiration, positive in many ways." After a pause, Hamilton then broke the ice as he joked: "But he's a dad, ...

Racism is alive and well, as we can see and feel throughout the 2008 F1 season. It was very clearly evident in how the so called "fans" are racially opposed to Lewis this year in Barcelona, Brazil and China. I felt that also this year even though I didn't want to admit it. It came to a head during the Brazilian GP how much the F1 world didn't want Lewis to win because he is black. Anthony knew it too . It's that simple. From the FIA to the teams to the drivers to the fans, I felt that insatiable need for the sport to remain "white". Yes, F1 is a white mans sport, that's why they can't take it that a black kid came out of nowhere to kick all their butts. I symphatise with Lewis because I'm not white, I'm a Malaysian but most whities will lump me together with the blacks and other minorities. Not only that, I'm not rich either. I understand the need for the rich to keep me out of their circle as I have been around them for a long time. ...

Tuesday 4th November 2008 Anthony Hamilton has spoken of the ill-will and abuse directed towards his son Lewis in the build-up to last Sunday's title showdown in Brazil. In the days leading up to the season finale the McLaren driver was racially abused on a Spanish website, earning the condemnation of both the FIA and the British government. However, the abuse later got up close and personal as two Brazilian comedians insulted Lewis during a press conference before handing him a toy black cat - a symbol of bad luck in the eyes of the Brazilian people. It didn't stop with Lewis, though, as his brother Nick was also handed a black cat as he entered the hotel where the family was staying. But despite the ill-will directed at Lewis and his family, the Brit rose above, winning the 2008 Drivers' Championship title by one point over local hero Felipe Massa. While the Brazilian was dignified personified in the wake of Hamilton's victory, sections of the crowd booed the Englishm...

Re-published from F1-Live Happy with father to guide his career 09/07/08 15:36 Silverstone winner and joint championship points leader Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday denied reports he is considering appointing a professional manager to handle his Formula One career. We reported earlier this week that the McLaren driver's current manager, his father Anthony Hamilton, was last Sunday at Silverstone spotted in deep conversation with renowned F1 driver-manager Julian Jakobi. When asked about the rumours as he tested at Hockenheim, 23-year-old Hamilton replied: "It's not correct, no. "I am very content with my management team." Source: GMM © CAPSIS International

Today's qualifying session (including Free Practice 3) was topsy-turvy. It was incredible to see Glock, Vettel, Bourdais, Coulthard and other midfielders taking turns to post P1 or P2 in-between the top 4 (Hamilton, Kovalainnen, Massa and Raikkonen). But I have noticed a worrying trend with Lewis. It seems that he's overdriving his car and making mistakes. I've noticed it for the last couple of races. And I've noticed that his mood and character has changed also. He seems distracted and lets his frustration at making one mistake lead to making more. I notice that he's been making mistakes since Canada, Magny-Cours and now Silverstone. At today's qualy session, his race engineer told him over the radio "do not overdrive, do not overdrive" and he did. I also notice that he overdrives over the last turn, touching the grass, everytime, every lap. As a friend and a fan, I'd advise him to cool down and listen to the people around him. Get back that cool ...

Monday 26th May 2008 "One down, one to go" was what Anthony Hamilton said after Lewis won Sunday's Monaco GP. As to what he was referring to, it's Lewis's F1 dreams. The McLaren driver fulfilled one of those on Sunday when he clinched the victory around the streets of the Principality, joining a prestigious list of Brits who have won the race including Stirling Moss, Graham Hill and Sir Jackie Stewart. And by realising that dream the 23-year-old also took a step closer to fulfilling his second F1 driver, winning the World title, as he took the lead in the Drivers' standings. "There are two dreams when you start out in Formula One; to win the World Championship and to win in Monaco," said Lewis's dad. "One down, one to go."