Hamilton jumps ship, but why?
HE NEWS dominating Formula One over the past week was Mercedes-Benz ditching Michael Schumacher in favour of Lewis Hamilton next year.
It kickstarted the driver-swap silly season and McLaren wasted no time in signing Sauber’s Sergio Perez to fill Hamilton’s shoes in 2013, and left Schumacher in contention for a possible move to Sauber or even Ferrari next year if he doesn’t retire.
But the burning question is what made Hamilton leave the winning McLaren team for an outfit that has tasted more defeat than success over the last three years, especially since the issue wasn’t over money as both teams reportedly offered the British driver similar salaries. Mercedes has won just one grand prix in the three years since purchasing the Brawn GP team.
Although Hamilton himself hasn’t said much about his motives, former triple F1 champion Niki
TLauda revealed his role in luring Hamilton to Mercedes for whom the F1 legend acts as a non-executive chairman. “I spoke to him (Hamilton) a couple of times, but I didn't have to convince him much,” said Lauda.
“My argument was, ‘if you're looking for a new challenge then frankly the Mercedes team is one’. Thinking the other way round, if Michael Schumacher could not get the Mercedes team - for three years running - up front and you next year are doing much better, this makes a huge impact on your personality and people will rate you much higher than you are rated now,” he added
It’s also thought that Hamilton was unhappy about McLaren insisting on keeping the winner’s trophy, and also decreeing how advertising space is used on his race suit.
Hamilton heads for the Japanese Grand Prix at Suzuka this weekend as an outside contender for the 2012 driver’s world championship after a recent bout of retirements sees him tracks loved by drivers and fans alike, much like Belgium’s SpaFrancorchamps.
One of few circuits in the world with a figure eight layout, the track is best known for its Spoon curve and 130R corner. Named after the corner’s radius, the 130R is one of the fastest in Formula One racing.
Although modifications made in 2003 mean taking it at full throttle is not quite the challenge it once was, jinking left in seventh gear at speeds in excess of 310 km/h remains a supreme test of both car and driver, with a lateral cornering force of up to 6G.