The F1 Team Change Everyone Thought Was Wrong

We take a look back at the decision that ultimately allowed Lewis Hamilton to break every F1 record... but everyone thought it was the wrong move!
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[@RockPhonic]

When Lewis had the balls to go round the outside of Alonso, in the first corner of his first race, then I knew he was going to be something special.

[@tyroneharris2790]

Alonso knew the rookie was better than him...the sole reason why he's a 7th title winner.

[@musiclover5023]

He was something special até Gp2 them improved even more at F1

[@leucadendron007]

That was the moment for me and my dad. Had some difficult seasons but it was all worth it, the mercedes move didn't worry us but we had no idea how much the move would pay off

[@Jahanoudis]

@@tyroneharris2790 hahahaha good joke

[@narcesioteixeira8492]

At this point, if HAM saved a cat from a tree, people would say “come on its the ladder”... anyone with “that” ladder would do it. “... but he was the one to do it

[@sej5387]

Tell it bro

[@fernandoangelrodriguezcort6080]

Haha looks like that's the case, Russell took that ladder and literally SLAYED

[@aimannorzahariwod]

@@fernandoangelrodriguezcort6080 no he didn't, he ate up the field on fresher tires but retired because his inexperience in the car.

[@The_Curious_Cat]

Yep, pretty much that.

[@memnen6672]

@@fernandoangelrodriguezcort6080 do know how many times his teams messes the things he correct it like Monaco 2019 , Germany 2008, Hungary 2021,silver stone 2020 big one Brazil 2021 when he disqualified and so many other. yeah many can win in that car when the thing are right but when are not and Mercedes kept him for that if is there any driver that really can win against odd is him we will not see another lewis so let's accept it

[@sindhusojan8225]

2013: Hamilton will never win with Mercedes 2021: Hamilton only wins because of Mercedes

[@slavaukraini54]

In the future , long after Lewis retires, the fans will realize this

[@_Charles_LeClerc_]

@@slavaukraini54 I hope

[@ryanjonathanmartin3933]

It proves that Hamilton has gotten hate every single year he has raced in F1. It isn't because he "wins too much". It's because he's a black man who succeeded in a predominantly white sport.

[@ICR_Frizzstroyer]

@@ryanjonathanmartin3933 making a topic that isn't about race, about race.

[@rodsitamara]

@@ICR_Frizzstroyer it is about race

[@jrrosberg9324]

Best move in formula 1 history looking back now

[@lucam42005]

You forgot Massa leaving Williams 😅. That's the best move ever.

[@viniciusleme1589]

@@lucam42005Lol

[@marcosbastos6188]

Except for fangio that kept changing to the winning team

[@stanizzi]

No really realizes how much Niki influenced the sport and that if he had passed in his accident, the sport wouldn’t be the same

[@jrrosberg9324]

@@stanizzi WHAT!?!?

[@slavaukraini54]

So basically Hamilton has been pissing excellence since starting racing as a kid , that’s all you had to say.

[@michaelmayo2489]

Little bit of Ricky Bobby

[@jastallion45]

Bruh... The guy is dripping with talent.. Youngest person to be sign by f1 team 😅

[@vgrin7307]

@@jastallion45 You sure about that. I think Verstappen was younger

[@JustSomeGuyWithNoMaidens]

@@vgrin7307 Lewis was 13 when he was signed by McLaren. Verstappen was 17 when signed by Red Bull. So yes he is the youngest. But Verstappen is the youngest race winner.

[@stevenjackson4076]

lmmas. love your post

[@SiVlog1989]

Hindsight makes Hamilton's success seem inevitable, but at the time he made his F1 debut in 2007, that wasn't the case. People at the time said, "Hamilton has shown in GP2 that he can race really well, but his team mate at McLaren is the reigning double world champion Fernando Alonso. He will probably have the edge over Hamilton over the year, but he will play second fiddle, picking up knowledge as he does so." As we well know, he exceeded everyone's expectations, but even then it wasn't guaranteed that McLaren would be competitive in 2007. The previous year, 2006, was their first winless season in 10 years. A true sign of how good a driver is, is where a driver is able to win even when their car isn't perfect. The 2009 McLaren for example, was 2.9 seconds off the pace in preseason testing, but with developments fitted to the car to better manage the airflow to the rear of the car, by Hungary, he was winning again. I don't think Hamilton's record of scoring at least one win in every season he's participated in will be matched, only Michael Schumacher would have achieved that as well, if he hadn't had his unsuccessful return from 2010-12

[@SiVlog1989]

@peter pan 1991 wasn't a full season for him, in fact he was still competing in Sportscars for Mercedes for the rest of the year, even after he joined Benetton from Monza after his weekend with Jordan at Spa

[@wht8349]

@@SiVlog1989 Schumacher is the dirt in F1, dirty & despicable driver, the only F1 driver awarded an unsportsmenship award.

[@SiVlog1989]

@@wht8349 bit of a divisive and potentially controversial comment there. On that basis, considering that he used his car as a weapon to ram Alain Prost out of the race in Suzuka 1990 to clinch the championship for himself, you'd have to put Ayrton Senna in the same category

[@nvr2seriouscc972]

Not gonna lie, Lewis driving got me hooked to F1. Back when he was with Button and they were struggling to keep up with Vettel/ Webber and Alonso. I remember He was such an underdog and you can see the struggle in his face when McLaren was playing 3rd fiddle. Then to switch to Merc and even then he wasnt winning in 2013, and finally see him shine in 2014, polish his skills against Rosberg and now seeing his race craft at full display is the best trajectory of an F1 career ever. Plus the fact that he and his dad had such a cinderella story, I just cannot help but root for the guy. At least that sums up my memory of him.

[@aikamsihra6887]

I absolutely love what you are saying and I agree with every bit of it. His career trajectory is so overlooked because people didn't watch it properly

[@harrymail7]

This is what I find hilarious about Hamilton haters. All they do is bang in about how great the car is and how he is just average and it's the car that's doing all the work. These were the same people who destroyed Hamilton when he decided to leave for the midfield team of Mercedes. They called it career suicide. Now he is dominating they say it's all the car. Just goes to show the irrational hate people have for him. It's a lose lose situation for him now matter what he does.

[@ami7y_xd664]

Now that is hypocrisy galore

[@user-rq2mp4dr5l]

And some Hamilton fans say that Vettel was dominant just bc of his car, but when it comes to Hamilton, it's all Hamilton's talent and not about the car.

[@alaeriia01]

I would honestly like to see an exhibition race where HAM drives the RB16 and VER takes the W11.

[@harrymail7]

@@user-rq2mp4dr5l I have never heard anybody ever say that but If that's what you believe.

[@harrymail7]

@@user-rq2mp4dr5l obviously the car matters. But it takes special drivers to unlock there full potential.

[@ss-jr5mk]

Jeremy Clarkson: Isn’t it like moving from Manchester United to West Ham

[@michaelmayo2489]

That aged about as well as milk in the sun

[@t8365]

Right... because Ronald and Messy play for underperforming teams...

[@peterfaker2900]

i remember actively looking for that clip after he got his 11th win of 2014

[@niggletirizing]

If it was Liverpool to Aston Villa, it would have to be swapped

[@Euclides287]

Can you blame him for saying that? Mercedes had just finished *5th* in constructors, well behind Lotus. Even Hamilton die hard fans thought he'd lost his mind and would never win a race again, nevermind a championship.

[@iiComment13]

Lewis Hamilton at Turkey 2006, GP2 - The race that got me into any racing (I've only missed a couple of races in F1 since 2007). What a driver, what a career. Silverstone 2008 perfection!

[@elliotttalksf1825]

Anybody who thinks Hamilton is overrated just watch Silverstone 2008. End of the argument! 👍☝️

[@iansmith3543]

Those people that say he's overrated are probably the ones who have only been watching since 2014.

[@cryogenesis51]

Canada 2007 and USA from the same year are two other great example. Despite being a rookie he beat the crap ouf of Alonso making him look like an amateur.

[@elliotttalksf1825]

@@cryogenesis51 to be honest there are dozens of races one could watch. I just said Silverstone 08. 😄👍

[@fernandoueno8668]

This year's wet quali at the Styrian GP is also an example, he went over a second quicker than 2nd fastest Max Verstappen, who is also known for having very good wet weather skills

[@cryogenesis51]

@@fernandoueno8668 Yep, I know. But stupid haters will always say he wins only because of Mercedes so the best way to shut them up is to mention the year where he was able, as a rookie, to beat the crap out of a two times world champion in the same car. ;)

[@FARISEO25]

Fun fact. HAM has 93 race victories all with the same engine manufacter

[@chriscollins550]

Different team's. That a huge difference. Just like team's that are running Mercedes engine are not doing as well.

[@SirGingerOfKnight]

@Krish Garg 2007-2013 McLaren's title sponsor was Vodafone Almost the entire time the Mercedes partnership existed, McLaren dragged their heels (and still did with Honda and Renault) insisting on running their own gearboxes (RIP Kimi 2003 & 2005 WDC) Ron Dennis also dragged his heels about McLaren becoming a Mercedes (Majority Share) Works team in the mid-2000s

[@BladeRunner031]

Maybe one day we will find out that in his RC car was Merc, who knows 😃

[@Shadowboost]

*94

[@osuosubi3379]

And your point is?

[@AlvinWillistonDavis]

Lewis moves to Mercedes, then starts to develop the right team around him with the experience that he had of poor team management, and as Hamilton gets away from Mclaren they dont win again. Coincedence? 🤷🏾‍♀️

[@tazglazers2513]

I think Lewis deserves more credit than people give. He left McLaren, who had the best car clearly at the end of the 2012, to Mercedes, who at the moment had only a few podiums and a win since returning in 2010. He lost faith in McLaren and he put that lost faith in Mercedes. Fair play to him. He made the right move at the right time.

[@mesterorange8181]

How tf McLaren had The best car???? Omg, do you even watch f1?

[@f4k3gamer]

@@mesterorange8181 mclaren had the fastest car that year but definitely not the best(bad reliability)

[@mesterorange8181]

@@f4k3gamer i have to differ on that, If you look up results and comparasions It was not the best, i mean data shows it, but one thing is right, reliability was poor

[@f4k3gamer]

@@mesterorange8181 www.racefans.net/2012/12/03/2012-f1-car-performance/#:~:text=McLaren%20overtook%20Red%20Bull%20as,Here's%20all%20the%20data. U can see the analysis as to y mclaren had a faster car

[@mesterorange8181]

@@f4k3gamer thanks but idk If Its cause im on my phone, It is quite confuse

[@cryogenesis51]

I'm a big fan of Lewis since 2006 and I still vividly remember how mad I was the day he announced that he would join Mercedes. Lewis back then was famous for his aggressive driving style and his consequent propensity to destroy the tyres. Mercedes in 2012, despite being fast in qualyfing, was basically the worst car in terms of tyres degradation. So I though "gosh darn it, no way that car will suit his driving style." Man, how things have changed. Now Lewis has adapted the way he drives and he's probably one of the best on tyres preservation. No matter what car, engine or aero regulations there was, Lewis has always been able to win at least one race every single year. That shows you how great he is. And if you think that's easy to do just look at how bad Vettel looks in the modern era (2014 included) compared to his previous years with V8 engines. Today's cars are enormously different from the one Lewis used to drive in 2007. Nevertheless he was fast back then and he is fast now. This requires an enormous amount of skills, more than people think.

[@EMichaelBall]

Bono my tyres are gone [FASTEST LAP]

[@andreemala]

And we are still here in 2022 with yet another different car to learn to drive much different to the ones he used to drive and yet he is proving to be one of the best drivers on the grid. STILL. Well said man

[@philmaself]

People whittle Hamilton down to just being an average driver in the best car but not many people realise how successful he was in his junior career

[@BladeRunner031]

Just ignorant people can say he is average.No need to like him and his personality has nothing with his driving skills but people look personality like they are watching Housewives and not F1 and they judge by that lol

[@Xenunt1]

Think it's important to highlight that Lewis made a great move, yes, but he has driven that teams development. Without him yes they may have been quick, but would they have won as much? Probably not.

[@The_Curious_Cat]

When he started I heard many people ask themselves "could the first black man win races?", then after he won races they asked themselves "could the first black man win a title?", he did that and after that he started being "Lewis Hamilton" and not "the first black man in F1". After that many said "he will never win another title" because "he's weak mentally". Apparently it had nothing to do with the car or the team. It was his fault alone. Now, after 7 titles, the car and team are suddenly very important, way more important "then in the past". Other drivers are given a lot of credit for building the team and helping develop the car in the right direction and "that's why they win titles". Until it comes to Lewis, nope, apparently that one only appears on the paddock on Sundays and then it's Adrian Newey that drives his car, just like he drove Vettel's cars to all his titles. lmao No matter what he does people will always say it's the gear, like Hamilton is not inside that gear and is part of the team that develop it.

[@elreydavid96]

People think lewis just always had it so easy cause he started for McLaren but can you imagine just how good a team like McLaren thought he was to sign him so early.

[@jackrobinson6602]

You only have to go look at him in GP2, unbelievable talent

[@cholovaldez4528]

When hamilton beat alonso on his rookie season in the same car

[@marguskiis7711]

Lewis first season was just crazy. Especially the last GP, where his car was switched off for 50 seconds and Lewis lost the unprecendented rookie title. But the next year I remember the Braz GP well, it was a huge mess all way through, noone understood what going on until the end.

[@spy6115]

For an one year old podcast must say still refreshing and on point. Now here we are with two races to go and he is now Sir and In my opinion 90% in favor of winning his 8th title

[@ani2684]

this aged well.

[@liamlufc90]

My memory of Lewis of winning the first f1 championship was recovering from a hangover the night before after my 18th birthday 😖😂

[@sarangtambe3585]

It happened the year I was born AND The closest race to my birthday(not revealing it for privacy reasons) was Silverstone 2008 which Hamilton won by more than a minute. Therefore he is my favourite driver.

[@vunenemutarini3006]

Give him his damn flowers please. People must stop with this whole "it's just the car" rhetoric.🤦

[@loweni7460]

It's a racist coping mechanism because they can't stomach seeing a black man dominate a non black sport

[@MrAllenm94]

I am sure Hamilton has more race wins and Championships in junior categories than the whole of F1 grid combined. He had to go through more categories than anyone else.

[@andrigtmiller]

Lewis had the greatest rookie F1 season in history, that is for sure.

[@SamReaN]

The day Lewis walked away from his broken down McLaren-Mercedes at Singapore was the last time he said goodbye to the team.

[@sarangtambe3585]

And even Abu Dhabi.

[@pwellington767]

How great was Lewis’s arrival then: he took two times world no.F1 champion and Michael Schumacher the greatest then’s crowns and still was not given due credit. But they are all doing so now.

[@PTGMelo]

As a brazilian, “Is that glock” is very sad

[@flamcheeseful]

When your rival only needs 5th to clench the title you havent done enough.

[@marktheaardvark7208]

@@flamcheeseful Not Massa’s fault. Ferrari screwed up as usual

[@duykhanhle99]

Could you Guys should talk about the 2012 season. I read some articles that without all the bad pit stops and the failures when he was leading races he could have won the Championship. Now imagine if this happened... maybe he would’ve never moved to Mercedes.

[@ZoltanF1LH]

Yes I was thinking the same at the time, it was a blessing in disguise in the end 👍

[@B-kl8vj]

When he moved to Merc people would say he has great raw talent but didn’t have the smarts of a Button which is laughable but it’s a classic example of that shadow prejudice that he has had to deal.

[@harrymail7]

I'm not one to call the race card. I hate it when used inproperly but I don't think people discuss the sly subtle racism and bigoted undertones he has to go through enough, especially from fans who unfairly criticise him more than any other driver ever. They hold him to these insane and totally impossible standards that no other driver has ever had to reach. If you're not a fan of him then fine. If you don't like his personality then fine. However there is this wave of illogical and unprecedented hate that I just don't see can stem from anything else apart from the fact he is black. I can't see another explanation for some of it.

[@YasminCarli]

@@harrymail7 well said

[@ryanjonathanmartin3933]

@@harrymail7 That's the problem though isn't it? Most people don't want to discuss it because they don't want to be seen as "pulling the race card", but when it happens it has to be brought to light for the sake of the sport.

[@Cabinessance]

Hamilton wasted two, maybe three years at McLaren. I was delighted when I heard he had left them. If you look back you see they couldn't even do pit stops properly in those days. God knows how many wins they cost him. Has everybody forgotten the con trick they tried to play on him whereby he would have to pay for his own engines? That's a joke and shows how stupid they were in those days. Lap 46 Turkey. The "best car" gets lapped by its team-mate, the best driver! I will admit though, I am disappointed with his qualifying this season. (97 pole positions and "disappointed"! But that shows the level of his ability. One of the all time greats, up there with Nuvolari, Fangio and Clark, IMO)

[@wht8349]

I never watched F2, the day I knew Lewis was the qualifying in Australia 2007, my instinct told me this guy is going to be a SUPERSTAR in F1. And his 9 consecutive podiums as a rookie will be a record to be around for another few centuries. He is the Greatest F1 driver so far, greater than his idol Senna.

[@michaelkpate]

I remember discussing it with my Father. It definitely seemed like a backwards move at the time.

[@ACsPianoCorner]

Katy's reaction at 34:02 to the savage comment made by Matty is well worth waiting until the end...🤣🤣.

[@minimead368]

Yeah but still a true statement tho

[@luckinout2056]

I had to decide if I was a Hamilton fan or McLaren fan. Glad I chose Lewis

[@selder_7]

I’m at the point now where he is the best, because he was so good on the lead up to F1, so good so quick in F1, stuck with it when they weren’t winning for a long time and then made a risky but smart team change and has just reaped the benefits and helped push them into the most successful team ever and he’s still not done. While he has had luck there was a while we’re he wasn’t in the right place and you don’t get to the right place without earning it. I do hope he gets more recognition before and after he retires, particularly as someone in the sport not from a racing family or fabulous wealth. Just a really great athlete in general. Vettel’s my favourite and I do still think Vettel would be the most successful had he gone to Mercedes but that’s due to the head start he’d have had and he wouldn’t be as good or dominate as Hamilton has been, he is the best

[@jarijaridewa]

He looks good against whom?

[@JustSomeGuyWithNoMaidens]

@@jarijaridewa The likes of Sebastian Vettel, Nico Rosberg, Fernando Alonso, Max Verstappen, Jenson Button, and all the other drivers he has outperformed in his years in F1.

[@jarijaridewa]

@@JustSomeGuyWithNoMaidens I must admitted, I NEVER saw F1 when these drivers racing in F1. Doesn't interest for me. And i am NOT fan of Michael Schumacher, Sebastian Vettel, etc. I am waiting NEW ERA in 2020 where all cars set equal so we just seeing DRIVERS skill and their truly performance, not car ability and car performances. But, i can not accept the idea winning once time like Kimi, Jenson Button, Nico Rosberg or winning 2 times to 5 times LESS greater than Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton!! Just it my protest if you and others still didn't understood what i against.

[@SuperIceman44]

@@jarijaridewa All those names you mentioned also had the best cars on the grid at their time lol. F1 has always been like this. A regulation change only opens the probability that some other team might dominate. There's always gonna he fast cars and slow cars.

[@jarijaridewa]

@@SuperIceman44 I knew. But you didn't put their names as GOAT, right? I had already said it before, that the car determine the winning at least 80% (Jean Todt mentioned it). To be champion, Charles need competitive car. Max need competitive car. Whoever need competitive car to winning the title. If their goal in F1 is JUST BEATING MERCEDES CAR, it wasn't RACING tournament! Still didn't got my messages or you will debating else thing? We are seeing CARS PERFORMANCE. Just it the idea. So if people want to labeling someone, Mercedes designer deserve that GOAT label because he designed UNBEATABLE cars!

[@antonydigerlando5195]

Oh my god if I was around to see that 2008 race I would’ve... smashed something? I don’t even know to be honest, the elation would have been unquantifiable. What a season.

[@ZoltanF1LH]

Last 10 laps I was distraught, I couldn't believe how this could be happening again after he lost by a single point a year earlier. The he won it! Unbelievable feeling😊

[@t1995roger10]

As a Massa fan and Brazilian, I was pissed!! 🤣 But now looking back at it, I'm happy that this is Hamilton's one of many

[@ZoltanF1LH]

@@t1995roger10 I feel that their duel to the end makes Massa unforgettable and will always be well remembered in the history books

[@doctornrsfnly]

Its really good that you have this look back at HAM's career- A lot of F1 (and WTF1) fans are younger and have no idea how good HAM is because he has been winning for almost their entire life. Many of these new F1 fans can't acceot that VET, RIC, LEC, RUS or VES- while all very talented simply do not have HAM'S level of genius automotive skill to have 4 wins, 6 poles, 2 FLs and 12 Podiums... ....Outscoring a 2-time WDC driver of the quality of ALO at his peak... ...*AS A ROOKIE* The Haters underrate HAM in a way that they never speak about VES, VET, LEC or RIC... We all know why that is and its not JUST because HAM (Like Fangio, Lauda, Prost and many other Multiple WDCs) consistently made good decisions and found the fastest machinery Its also good that you highlight HAM's brave decision to stick to his convictions and move to Mercedes when EVERYONE (even his father) thought it was a bad idea... BTW, Merc They offered the option to Button, and he turned it down... Why? Because BUT did not have the vision or the balls to take this sort of risk on a vision that only HAM, Brawn, Lauda and Toto believed was possible- Its important for your viewers to understand that HAM will be the reference that EVERY SINGLE F1 DRIVER will have to measure themselves against as long as F1 exists. **VES, Think You are good in the wet?** Dude, are you as good as HAM was in Silverstone 2008 or Suzuka 2007? No? Did you win *9 consecutive rain affected races*? (JPN '14, GB '15, US '15, MON '16, GB '16, BRA '16, CHN '17, SIN '17, GER '18) No? Then you ain't THAT good in the wet, are you?? **LEC, Think You are Good in Qualy?** Dude, HAM will soon have as many poles as Clark, Prost and Mansell- COMBINED You just ain't that quick are you? **RIC, Think you are pretty consistent F1 driver?** Bruh, HAM has 14 consecutive YEARS with at least 1 win and 1 Pole, has won at 29 different circuits, is currently on 46 consecutive points finishes and has 57 wins from Pole The man's WORST performance in the 14 YEARS he has been in the WDC is 5th You just ain't that consistent are you? HAM will soon be the only man to have *7 WDCs/7Grand Chelems//100+ wins/100+ Poles/150+podiums* in his F1 career He will own every single performance record in the sport (except win percentage- he is 3rd to Fangio and Ascari) EVERYONE ELSE will have to say his name whenever they discuss F1 performance. HAM WILL BE the standard to measure all other drivers. HAM is currently writing history and the Haters will never get past it- Because of his tatoos and his driving genius. Because They don't like his hairstyle, they underrate his engineering talent and car development skills. Because They DEFINITELY don't like his skin colour and are jealous of his confidence, they never talk about his unbelievably good tyre management and magical touch on the brakes. They hate his success and versatility to have outside interests, and ignore his commitment to personal and professional improvement year on year.... They hate that he has defined who he is on his terms, that he has found a way to express his talent and that he is okay with merely being excellent, and does not care about their ideas for perfection And that is something that I am sure HAM is just fine with...

[@ZoltanF1LH]

Amen 👏

[@johnjohnrice585]

Bravo!! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾

[@marshallmarthes]

Absolutely true

[@dod2105]

My. God. This has to be the comment of the year 👏👏👏 BRAVO!!

[@domparish8434]

love these podcasts

[@g.g.baxter4868]

U hear so many drivers being happy to just have made it to F1, especially the ones who don’t come from a racing background. Different for the likes of Rosberg, Sainz, Max etc as with footballers if your Dad was in the sport you get eyes on you from the start. So to be 10yrs old and know that not only will you get to F1 but you will also believe you will be good enough to drive for one of the top 2 or 3 teams at the time really shows why he’s had the career he’s had

[@Zerokiaa]

Please bring these back! Even just a 10-15 min convo to touch on an old piece of F1 history, perhaps even relevant to current day news would be cool!

[@camalejao]

as a brazilian I have PTSD caused by the 2008 championship

[@ZoltanF1LH]

Sorry to hear, I had that after 2007 mind you...

[@rhyswilliams4893]

Is that glock.

[@xtheamazingax]

Basically what Mercedes managed to do is do the old "to whom it may concern, f**k you" BEFORE Valtteri came along and put it into words. Nice thinking! I wasn't really sure at the time if Hamilton was doing the right thing... but he obviously was, for not just the record breaking history making career. You have to do what you feel is right. Lewis did that. And that earns respect from me. :)

[@george76cameron]

I remember David Hobbs asking " Has he gone mad?" When he heard Lewis was going to Mercedes. Seven time world champion Michael Schumacher came out of retirement to drive the Mercedes, and only earned third position once, I think he inherited that position. Lewis took over from Michael, went on to earn six championships and a knighthood. I wouldn't expect the Johnny-Come-Latelys to know that!

[@sharadoadd2877]

i loved every moment of this.... very much worth it :) learned heaps of thing about lewis and f1 ... thanks to wtf1 :)

[@jussayinmipeece1069]

so the kid was so good that he got a a contract as at 13 and people still think he "had it easy"

[@darkkrad6]

This was a very cool podcast as someone who just got into watching f1 this year its cool to hear more about the history of how we got to the f1 2020 season

[@jedreqq]

Dear XmattyG I still want another episode of ProjectCars career mode rage

[@jaimes5716]

even if he did it wouldn't be the same. that's just life

[@aaronrigg5208]

Back to the swearing and random singing oh yeah, good times.

[@marshallmarthes]

Lewis is not just once in a generation but once in several lifetimes talent so obviously he got signed really young without any backing from any sponsors if not McLaren some other team would have grabbed him so I think McLarenGot lucky with signing him

[@Lee883]

To be fair he went into a team that had won the championship in 2009 and had Brawn, Costa and Bell... I said to my mate at the time it's a risk, but mercedes have the money and he's basically got the Schumi Ferrari team behind him so we'll see. I never expected him to win so many but I thought he may be able to drag it to 1 championship... The success they've had is just insane!

[@benkelly2968]

Loved the podcast guys Matt feel for you on 08 Brazil. I watch Formula 1 with my Dad who wanted to go to pub to watch the race. Wasn't overly keen to be around people who didn't care as much as I did but went anyway. As Vettel overtook Lewis in the rain to demote him out of the title position the TV broke. I instead had to call my sister who gave me a running commentary. Was devastated when she said Massa had done, as soon as she said "he's overtaken Glock" I went bonkers a quiet small pub. 5 people quietly drinking their pale ales staring at me like a lunatic. Incredible day.

[@assanm.t.makovora9407]

Very informative. Please give us more and keep up the good work. Thank you.

[@DSQueenie]

Sky did a great article when they collected several articles about Hamilton’s move to Mercedes and the Guardian (who the Autosport journalists hate weirdly enough) was the only one to say unequivocally Hamilton had made the right move.

[@happygilmore2100]

7 world titles now, 94 wins and counting, he is the G.O.A.T.

[@dianamaioru497]

100 wins now!

[@RobMullee]

Nice work 👏 really enjoyed that 👍

[@Dino.808]

When I first saw Hamilton on Blue Peter thats when I knew he was going to be a multi-champion, but never thought he would be this good.

[@robbiewarburton2548]

The 2008 Brazilian Grand Prix was the first core memory I had of F1 I threw up from excitement after the race :)

[@TheMrFishnDucks]

This was a fantastic video. Keep up the good work.

[@hash00ify]

This was great, would love more topics like these

[@DuxDrive]

What I find weird is that a normal man working something else entirely and far away from F1 can learn that Mercedes were coming up with some really strong engine performances for the new hybrid era, which was estimated at around 150horse power more stronger than the rest, and yet, people in F1 who work this professionally thought he would be wrong to go to Mercedes. I personally having read that article at the end of 2012, I never thought for a moment that that was a team with which he won't ever win, but rather as a sacrifice of one year for something greater. So I don't really see it as anything extraordinary. It's actually quite expected and he knew it too. As Ross Brawn did (saying it in his book) and Niki Lauda too.

[@patrick17_6]

9:03 the weak smile and thereon Matt's face LMAOOOOOOOOOOOO

[@koushikgijgal2165]

We need more of this during the weekends when there is no race 👍👍 Awesome Content!!

[@user-vo7tj4bv1z]

12:15 so funny because he used the exact same line for the end of this season! I guess it would be believable

[@Jack-dg1zh]

Matty: 2008 Brazilian GP probably one of the most crazy ends to a championship ever. F1 2021: Hold my beer…

[@RobGodwin]

Haha.....I came here to make exactly the same comment.

[@Punty050]

Actually realized today that WTF means "that time when", thought it meant something else. Even though you've said it many times before, I guess I wasn't paying attention. Awesome show (awesome sauce/ whatever that means), had me glued, got to relive those past rocky Lewis non championship years.

[@ParhamAz]

Lewis recently said even his dad wasn't ok with his move to Merc.

[@gamingbenkku5629]

Great video👍🏻

[@armadillolover99]

My favorite example to show just how wrong people were about the move, he went on Top Gear that year and Jeremy Clarkson said something along the lines of “McLaren to Mercedes, that’s like going from Manchester United to West Ham”

[@MrAllister9]

Tommy sounds like every F1 radio guy that talks to the driver during the races lol box box box

[@wba1014a]

I genuinely think there's a strong chance that after he wins the title this season (so 7) he could announce he is retiring at the end of this year. He has so much else going on like, getting back into music and his fashion/clothes. And I'm not sure he really cares about beating Micheal's record and would be happy just to tie it since he has so much respect for him. Along with Toto saying George will defo have a seat next year not matter what, really makes me think that Russell could move across into Hamilton's seat and Hamilton leave the sport.

[@mmejia0927]

@MATTYWTF1 what do you drink in every podcast? It always looks refreshing! You three are great!

[@Kingsta90]

Enjoyed that podcast, was a sceptic at first but this was good content, keep it up.

[@pablokenzie47]

I know this is about Lewis Hamilton, but last night I was watching Queens Gambit on Netflix, today I log on to this KZbin video and keep thinking Katy Fairman has the exact same eyes and facial expressions as the actress in The Queens Gambit... Apart from that, great insight into Hamilton's career, 1998 Karting championship where Hamilton came from the back of the grid to win is why McLaren signed him. That same race Richard Hopkins placed a £100 bet Hamilton would one day win an F1 DWC, in 2008 Mr Hopkins collected £165,000.

[@rafaelbalbijr.9674]

Such good backstory, thank you

[@buka7776]

keep up with the good conversations guys.love it,

[@margaretkirimania1220]

I was watching that moment when Ham won the title in 2008 & Vettel passed Ham & saw the family of Massa celebrating i switched off the TV but after 5 min, I switched on surprised to see Nicole x girlfriend of Ham jumping & I was confused what happened.. Then I saw Hamilton jumping around with Brit flag & that's when I came to realize that he has won. But till today I regret to have switched off the TV.

[@EMichaelBall]

I only kept watching the New England vs Atlanta Super bowl when it got to 28-3 for the commercials.

[@codybutler1012]

Great content. And Keep Katy lol

[@QasimAli-to5lk]

"He won't win in Mercedes" 7 titles later.......

[@jmoth99]

12:05 oh Tommy, little did you know

[@Wandagon]

Oh it's a amazing to watch old videos

[@bonkers7888]

Is there a dog sleeping in the background? I can hear him breath hahaha

[@chrisreadman4282]

Everything fell into place for 2007. End of 2005 kimi had signed for Ferrari for 2007 from mclaren Montoya didn’t have a contract beyond 2006 reason why he left f1 especially with Alonso already signed for 2007. Lewis delivered that season. Fernando had to change his driving style that season abit like kimi did with the change of tyre manufacturers from there previous years. I believe that season defeat made Alonso stronger and in some way for kimi took his motivation after achieving his target of world championship as he seemed uninterested after that. Mercedes where going big. 2010-2011 they were developing the car using sponsorships. It was Mercedes in name but basically a brawn underneath. Reason why button left the team at the end of 2009 as he knew the team couldn’t keep up with development with the big teams. 2012 onwards they took it more seriously and put forward there own money into the team and the results show.

[@jordandavies2638]

Love it , love it. Love it. So good you guys! As always, 5 stars nothing less ;)

[@GLAS63]

There's something that people say that irks me a bit sometime, in regards to Lewis going straight into McClaren, imagine if Lewis & Anthony Hamilton had the same equipment as their rivals in carting?? Maybe he would have been noticed and signed earlier.. So when he entered into GP3 & GP2 people had the first look at what he could do all things being equal.. Just a thought..

[@tensevo]

2012 season was bloody brilliant.

[@directorofnolearning]

To be fair to the doubters, at the time it did look like a move backwards. Mercedes had only won one race since their return and were fifth in the WCC in 2012. Meanwhile, McLaren had won seven races that season and had the fastest car. On that basis, there was absolutely no reason to think that Mercedes would be as dominant as they have been.

[@superferrariman]

25:20 Schumi to Ferrari, Senna to Lotus (in some way), Seb to Ferrari, Lauda To Ferrari, Fangio to Mercedes, Moss to Vanwall or Luda to Mclaren...

[@DaylightDigital]

This is now like the F1 version of the Do Go On podcast lol

[@spuddyl9938]

What headset is Tommy wearing? It looks a lot like Hyperx cloud or Fnatix React.

[@MrBuurh]

I predict Hamilton will get 108 wins because if he wins an 8th title in 2021 I reckon he will retire.

[@ParhamAz]

But in that case, he would only win 15 out of the next 27 races until the end of 2021. If Merc dominates the same way as they they're doing in 2020, Bottas would probably win around 10 races in 2021? I don't think so. He's had only 9 after almost 4 seasons.

[@glennlewman1377]

10

[@rcf1878]

You all great guys Thank you great 👍

[@WillMoody-crmstorm]

That Alonso's juicy peach story is great!

[@yancoker659]

You feel old matt !! My first memory of F1 is James Hunt wining the title in 76... i was 4...

[@mattbrown7455]

Suggestion - that time when the world champion that year had 3 DNFs, one disqualification, and won only one race, the drama of two French drivers at French team Renault conspiring to hate each other more than anyone else could hate them, Brit John Watson's annual campaign against winning the championship, the tragic loss on track of both Gilles Villeneuve and Ricardo Paletti, the last win for a Tyrrell, 11 different race winners in 16 races, featuring 40 drivers and 18 constructors - step forward the insanity that was 1982. Turbo charged v normally aspirated tortoise v hare vibe and the most brilliantly bonkers F1 season I have ever had the privilege to witness - I was 13 at the time and a lifelong passion was born...

[@Shadowboost]

Read the article from The Race to see how Mercedes improved so much in 2013

[@nightvvisher7713]

Actually im from Serbia and our commentator predicted Merc becoming title contenders and he said couple of times before Mercedes dominance that it was good move... of course he didn't predict this kind of dominance, but he was sure that Merc is going to fight for titles in near future back in 2012... he also said in 2012 or 3 that he expects Williams to recover and fight for top positions, and in 2014 and 5 Williams was smth like third in standings...

[@Idkbruhhhuuujhhhj]

*Nico rosberg intensifies* 32:32

[@rtralpha3960]

I’m going to call that Lewis will end his career on 112 wins. I’ll be here when that happens.

[@tf9429]

The closest race on pace was when magnussen finished 3rd in Australia 2014 around 25secs of Rosberg but got 2and as ricciardo was dsq

[@lagundafire]

One of my favourite quotes was when in 2013 Lewis was on Top Gear. Jeremy asked if joining Mercedes from McLaren was like joining Lincoln City from Manchester United..... both those comparisons aged so well. 😂

[@mesterorange8181]

I mean, Mercedes is no joke, they are The most succesful Racing Brand EVER! of course in f1 Ferrari is ahead on mumbers but Mercedes smashes percentage and etc but i am not only talking about f1!!! Mercedes are The greatest Dtm racers, The greatest group C racers they have AMAZING records scaterred though many racing series and though time.

[@chrislakous5236]

Man not gonna lie, when he announced that he was going to Mercedes I was screaming noooooooo, but glad he did!!!!!!

[@BladeRunner031]

I was so angry that I said to myself that I must find some other driver to support cuz Lewis is stupid 😂 Hehe,sooo angry