de la Rosa or Hamilton

Venom · Post 10 Oct 2006, 00:13

Who should team-up with Kimi for the last race of season?

DaveKillens · Post 10 Oct 2006, 02:43

McLaren are not impressing anyone on the technical front, so now they have to go political. What better way to garner some positive press at the end of the season than by allowing Hamilton to race in Brazil?
Mind you he's earned it and worth it. He just may be as impressive as Kubica.

bhall · Post 10 Oct 2006, 03:13

McLaren hasn't been competitive at any point this year really. If it were my choice, I'd have put Hamilton in a seat as soon as it was possible.

He's clearly a driver of the future, and the experience gained by race driving is priceless. So he should definitely be paired with Kimi in Brazil. Probably should've been there sooner.

pRo · Post 10 Oct 2006, 08:27

Hamilton.

I thought he'd get the seat earlier, but better late than never.

boban-mk · Post 10 Oct 2006, 08:57

I have watched some races of GP2, and i believe that Piquet Jr is a class above Hamilton. He show that in first test he had for F1. I don't believe that Hamilton will be faster then Pedro this week in Jerez. But they should try to put him in race. Pedro can't prove anything more, because he had enough time for that.
I hope to see when Fisicela will be replaced by Piquet in the Mid of a season for Renault.

RH1300S · Post 10 Oct 2006, 10:13

IF chosing between those two they should run Hamilton. It seems to me that DLR is quick, a decent driver etc. etc. - but he is certainly not a potential front runner.

Hamilton, on the other hand, is showing every prospect of being a front running driver. IF he is a potential great, my humble opionion is that he will be right away on the qualifying pace if not race pace of Alonso and he won't be destroyed mentally by FA. Almost every world champion of note has come into the sport and made their mark very quickly.

He could have a hard season, but that would be expected - worth a shot to find out

Fan Solo · Post 10 Oct 2006, 10:28

Hamilton!, the car will break but can you imagine a better way to get Mclaren & thier sponsors maximum coverage? RD wont pass up the chance.

zenvision · Post 10 Oct 2006, 16:07

Hamilton hands down. Mclaren are in a state where they arent gunning for wins, but still a good solid car so the level of expectancy would be lower and honestly he couldnt do much worse that Pedro did in Japan. What would help him also is that the focus is on Alonso's title so he could do his on thing in relative peace.

Spyker MF1 · Post 10 Oct 2006, 16:41

If all they want is good press coverage then Hamillton if they want they best result they can get they should put Paffet in the car as I beleive he would out class Pedro and Hamillton you only had to see his last season in the DTM to see how great he is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

dumrick · Post 10 Oct 2006, 22:45

Well, I'll go with the trend here...
For me, it's paramount a good nursing of young drivers. The best example for me was how Renault gave Alonso a season in Minardi, afterwards one year of testing, before giving him a race seat with the team. I've seen so many champions in the making... that never made it in F1...
Since for McLaren is not an option to get Lewis in a smaller team for a season, there's no best option than putting him racing in a race like Brasil - last race of the season, the team has ensured 3th place, and so he can just get to know the people in the team -although he has been "part of the family" for so many years now...- get used to a F1 race weekend and race with no unnecessary pressure.
And I don't believe Hamilton to be in a Kubica level - I think is better! Is a guy that made it in all series he has raced, a natural winner... let's see if he turns out a Senna or an Alesi...

wazojugs · Post 10 Oct 2006, 23:12

i think the ideal line up for mclaren would paffet to partner alonso with hamilton as the third driver getting more experiance running the car on race weekends.

De la rose would be better pitching working with one of the lower teams as he can bring in a wealth of experiance, plus if he was that good he would have secured a full time race seat of the last 5 years

manchild · Post 10 Oct 2006, 23:28

Hamilton must take more test and than gain experience as Friday driver. Letting him drive with almost no experience in driving F1 car apart from 3 days test in Silverstone would be very dangerous.

Fan Solo · Post 10 Oct 2006, 23:48

If Vettell can lap as quick as the rest of em stick Hamilton in!

Hes not exactly short of race experience either, GP2 requires overtaking

Venom · Post 11 Oct 2006, 00:45

It seems that there is no right or wrong answer here. All opinions and facts make sense but they also collide.

At the end of the day McLaren has nothing to lose. They will finish 3rd in constructors and Pedro has nothing to lose either. Giving Hamilton a chance in proper race is the best test, and doesn't cost much, neither does it effect anyone a part from those who label McLaren's kit with drivers names on it

joseff · Post 11 Oct 2006, 03:16

Dear Ron,

Please Put Lewis in the second car, and detune Kimi's engine just to bamboozle di Montezemolo. We know you want to.

Best Regards

de la Rosa or Hamilton

Which McLaren driver should race in Brazil?

de la Rosa or Hamilton