Needed- Drivers with an ATTITUDE!!
July 20th, 2007
One of the things that I miss these days in Formula One is a character- a driver with an attitude. As much as I am a fan of Fernando Alonso and increasingly of Lewis Hamilton, I cannot but admit disappointment at the highly diplomatic and rehearsed way they do their PR.
None of the top drivers today- Alonso, Raikkonen, Hamilton , Massa, Button … is capable of making the headlines when outside a racing car. They are simply not mercurial enough to be interesting characters. Even though Michael Schumacher was also of a similar mould, his ‘winning at any cost’ motto in life made sure that people are always interested in what he says. I feel that Formula One needs a Juan Pablo Montoya or a Jacques Villeneuve. In the good old days it was always amusing and interesting to hear what Montoya would say about Michael or what Villeneuve would say about the FIA. Nowadays it is a boring activity to listen to a post race press conference or an interview with the drivers.
There are scores of sportsmen out there who can keep talking pleasantries and exchanging smiles, who can give diplomatic answers to specific and pointed questions. To make a sport interesting, one needs to add the human element. Something like a personal rivalry or an emotional comeback or a man fighting the system and the politics. After all we are all humans. We appreciate human emotions being displayed on the sporting field- as long as it is within the rules and spirit of the game. If Alonso doesn’t like Hamilton, he should say so in the open. If Kimi Raikkonen feels that the new rules by the FIA are stupid then he should express his feelings. I am sure the FIA wouldn’t dare suspend a driver of his stature for such actions. Such things will give the human touch to the sport which it is currently lacking. This will also add enormous entertainment quotient to formula one. Lets not forget yet, that formula one is after all a sport and the primary motive of every sport is to provide entertainment to the spectators.
I hope somebody emerges from the young blood in F1 as the new JPM or JV to keep the fans engaged between the races (as well as during them) by speaking their hearts out.
Entry Filed under: Formula 1
9 Comments Add your own
1. elly parker | July 20th, 2007 at 7:16 pm
At least in the last few seasons we’ve discovered that Coulthard has opinions, leaving McLaren meant he got his voice and his balls back!
But you’re right, we need someone at the pointy end of the grid to be more like that…
2. Don Speekingleesh | July 20th, 2007 at 7:32 pm
The FIA might not suspend a drive for complaining about the new rules but they would probably make his life hard for a while.
Back in 1997 when JV described the 1998 rules as shit he was called before the WMSC (in Paris) on the Wednesday before the Canadian GP. Nice way to fuck up his preparations for the race, and once of the first signs that Mosley was a megalomaniac fuckhead.
3. bluenose | July 20th, 2007 at 7:37 pm
Money talks.. Or, in this case, the money insists that the driver doesn’t talk. I think DC is the exception that proves the rule: Red Bull have a very different outlook than RBS or BMW.
MS was a huge disappointment in this regard, he being one of those rare drivers that any team would deal with the devil for, and would therefore tolerate just about anything he did off the track so long as he won on it.
Hamilton, I’m afraid, will be similarly disappointing, even if he is one of those same rare drivers..
4. Abhinav | July 20th, 2007 at 9:11 pm
There is one driver who has too much of an attitude-Nelson Piquet Junior.
Ok,so he may not be in F1 but he will be here sooner or later.He is generally giving his opinions about drivers,especially if they beat him in lower formulae.Speaks too much,in my opinion.
I remember him ranting about Scott Speed being in F1 just because he was american and because of his NAME.I still laugh thinking about it.Imagine NELSON PIQUET…Jr. in F1 a few years or months from now.Wouldn’t that be a bit ironic.
5. Apotti | July 21st, 2007 at 12:37 am
You couldn’t be much more wrong with Räikkönen. He has always been a subject for the headlines. Whether it is his snowmobile contest with alias James Hunt, his drinking abilities, lapdande capabilities, his bachelor party, his excellent, real finnish attitude one liners for the press and so on. My personal favorite is “F1 without press would be a paradise”
I don’t know if it is the press or what always tries to lay him down but the man is really a character with capital C. He shows no marks what so ever to fit the mold of a regular F1 driver. The man is just great.
When Schumi retired and Räikkönen was marked to be his successor, everybody excepted him to change his attitude towards Schumacher’s. I mean everybody expected him to try to motivate the team and try to learn the development of the car. But just the opposite happened. Räikkönen is still the same guy than before, his attitude is that he has to be quick in the car. Just great. He doesn’t try to be something he’s not.
And you will never hear ranting or blaming other people for the faults, but don’t mistake that for lack of character. It is just not his nature. But do make note about his comments, especially his personal comments, they are not long but they are excellent. Laconic, finnish humour in it’s purest form.
Only thing I hope for is that he will never change.
But otherwise you hit the nail. Alonso, Hamilton and Massa are just small parts of a big mass.
A, H & M are still nothing compared to the most boring and 19 in dozen driver Button. He should not be in F1. He might be fast when there is nobody else in the track but that’s it. He’s no racing driver and he has nothing to add to this grear sport.
Thx for bearing me
6. GTMarley | July 21st, 2007 at 3:05 am
Irvine used to be good for a colourful comment. How about Murray Walker’s commentary? I couldn’t always understand him but what a character!
7. Art | July 22nd, 2007 at 7:53 am
Senna!!! He complained about the rules, he complained about his engines, he complained about the nature of the universe.
He backed it up by driving better than any driver had a right to.
8. verasaki | July 22nd, 2007 at 7:31 pm
I’m not sure the chequebooks behind the sport would agree it’s a sport first…this is big, big business. An opinionated driver may not be fired for self expression but, he’d have to be top level not to suffer repercussions in negotiating a new contract.
I take your point on how boring these guys appear to be, although I think Massa and Alonso put on a good post race hissy today but, I think we may all be forgetting something. This is a new generation of drivers and they’ve been raised in the era of obsessive political (substitute corporate) correctness. Like every generation they behave according to the times they live in. If you doubt that, take a look at some of the drivers photos from the 60’s to present. I’ve seen drivers with a poochy tummies, Senna nearly passed out at the end of a race in a McLaren and several drivers with cigarettes dangling from their lips. Times change and so do driver’s conditioning.
I doubt any of these guys could be described as boring but, if it were my ass on the line, I’d know that if I say I hate Hamilton or Bernie’s a twit with a messianic comples I’d live to regret it…if only because a media who jump all over that crap would never let it go.
Do we need personality? I only spend a few hours on a race weekend watching these guys on a small screen, I don’t have to live with them. I’m happy when there is more than one team dominating and there’s some good passing potential. So far this season is paying off for me.
I would have paid for a ticket to see the now legendary Irvine/Senna round though. And I really do miss the surreal quality of a Hakkinen interview.
9. Sophie Dubois | July 25th, 2007 at 11:16 am
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