Comments on: Video: Did Hamilton cause his gearbox problem? (updated)

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:22:41 +0000

Andy – as you can see in an article linked to above there was a journalist who made up a quote claiming Hamilton admitted he had pressed a button on his steering wheel:

Hamilton did not admit causing car failure in Brazil

The journalist later admitted he made the quote up. Despite that many people continue to believe Hamilton’s problem was self-inflicted, particularly those who don’t like him…

By: andy

andy — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 22:09:01 +0000

rather late i know but i’ve just come across this and for all of you who think hamilton caused this himself…. why on earth would he try and take a drink through a fast corner like that??? surely he’d be waiting for a straight or a less intense moment. the problem had already started to develop by the time this video starts.

By: mr muriel

mr muriel — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 14:30:36 +0000

What’s all the fuss about Hamilton? New boy on the block? I think not! How many other drivers can you name that have had the benefit of being sponsered and tutored by one of the world’s leading race teams.Untill we see the full introduction of professional 10 year old apprentice drivers there is no one with whom to compare Hamilton with. Untill then why not treat Hamilton as just another good driver who happened to have his F1 debut coincide with Mclaren’s most reliable season for quite some time and Ferrari’s most unreliable!!!! We won’t mention the spying will we?

By: Kollo

Kollo — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 15:06:25 +0000

La Presse journalist now admits Hamilton did not speak to him. Other journalists were telling him what Hamilton had supposedly said to his engineers.

Hamilton’s steering wheel had the Neutral button on the left side. This can be seen from the photos taken during the weekend. Even if he pressed the button accidentally before the problem occurred, it doesn’t explain why the problem lasted so long. I can only think it was a technical problem.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 14:46:48 +0000

Hamilton did not admit causing car failure in Brazil

By: johannes

johannes — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 12:05:03 +0000

As I understand it, the steering wheel displayed on Mclaren’s site is last year’s model and the other link above (showing a replica) has the current configuration of buttons. In other words, I think it’s determined by now LH is pressing Neutral and nothing else. Though the video is inconclusive as to when LH presses it – that is, if he causes the car to slow down or reacts to the car slowing down – my impression is his action is very deliberate and determined, in sum: he did not cause the problem but reacted to it.

Maybe I should add I always rooted for Kimi, so this pro-LH interpretation is not based on me being one of his fans.

By: Keith Collantine

Keith Collantine — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:46:34 +0000

McLaren's website has this feature on the steering wheel: McLaren.com - Behind the wheel (external) And this clickable guide: McLaren.com - Interactive steering wheel (external)

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 11:27:24 +0000

The wheel shown in comment 31 by Lee is not the real wheel. I don’t know if Hamilton pushed it or not but in the real wheel, I have seen it many times, it is in the top left.

Answer to another question … the car would slow down very quickly with the speed limiter. Hard to believe but from the video and the timing it really looks like he pushed it.

In any case Raikkonen deserved it more than any mercedes driver.

By: oliver

oliver — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:52:35 +0000

Journeyer:

Barichello statement was actually joke. I like him.

By: Journeyer

Journeyer — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:36:33 +0000

I wouldn’t agree with your Rubens-Honda comment, oliver. Remember, they won last year (Rubens’ 1st with them). It’s just that it was Jenson who won.

As for Hamilton as a polarizer, isn’t that the case with all the greats? Raikkonen, Alonso, Schumacher, Mansell, Senna, Prost, Piquet, Lauda…

By: oliver

oliver — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:06:53 +0000

Sidepodcast:

Yes I agree with you, that hamilton does polarize opinion. I sometimes wonder, who started it first, the side that says he is not good, or the side that says he is too good. Concerning Barichello, what exactly are we supposed to write about? Maybe its a coincidence, but since he joined Honda, they have got slower.

By: Siegfried

Siegfried — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:09:25 +0000

Hamilton sucks, and it hurts me because I’m English! But the truth is that he is a SPOILED LITTLE KID.

By: RoveR

RoveR — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 08:00:31 +0000

i know driver press the speed limit button right before entering the pit lane, when the car is already running at a slow speed (close to the speed limt). i was curios, if he did press that button in race he was doing probably 200 km/h, so whan that button is press, the car gradualy slows down or it brakes very hard ???

By: sidepodcast.com

sidepodcast.com — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 01:42:09 +0000

oliver, i’m not sure that it’s a conspiracy.

lewis has the ability to polarise opinion in the way that schumacher once did. look at the comment count on this site for posts relating to lewis versus someone like barichello.

look at the impact the guy has made this season, it doesn’t matter who you ask, everyone has something to say about him.

and i’m liking the debate(s).

By: Scott Joslin

Scott Joslin — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 22:30:09 +0000

Hear, Hear Oliver!!

By: oliver

oliver — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 17:33:15 +0000

Thanks Lee from for the steering wheel.

It is easier now to believe that the entire canadian news story was a fabrication by just looking at the steering wheel. And this updated article from Mclaren, confirms the original belief that it was a gearbox issue.

You can clearly see Hamilton hitting the neutral button as he couldnt find any gears.
Seems there is a conspiracy somewhere to just give Hamilton bad press however possible.

By: johannes

johannes — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 16:27:36 +0000

Conflicting info as to how the buttons are arranged, though N or P seems to be candidates – compare image on Mclarens site: it has the reverse arrangement with the speed-limiter to the left. A matter of driver preference perhaps. Anyway I lean toward human error, more often than not mechanical glitches return and/or gets worse.

http://www.mclaren.com/features/technical/interactive_steering_wheel.php

By: Lee

Lee — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 13:07:38 +0000

Is it the pit lane limiter not sure see for your self!
http://www.amalgamcollection.com/en/product/image_popup.php?image=MP422ASW_1191598059.jpg&PHPSESSID=7823d4e8707afaf7cbcb4e2cf1550df7

By: Clive

Clive — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 10:49:44 +0000

Back in the days when there was real racing and cars had real gearshifts, the drivers used to miss a gear occasionally and that led to other guys overtaking them. What’s that? Oh, overtaking – it’s when one car goes by another. It used to happen sometimes in those days.

But to return to the point: I find it heartening that F1 has found a way to duplicate this amazing effect.

By: milos

milos — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 08:57:37 +0000

oh, this time it is Dailymotion, not YouTube

it is really difficult to tell… I do not see any reason for Hamilton to tell what really happened. But with McLaren to supply ECUs next year they should be keen to blame it on human error. if McLaren comes out and say it was not mistake of Hamilton, I am kind of inclined to believe them this time