First Black Driver in Formula 1

[logansoldcigar]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6179704.stm

Englishman Lewis Hamilton will drive for McLaren in Formula One next season.
The 21-year-old, the reigning champion of the GP2 feeder series, will be the first black driver to race in F1.

Hamilton, who has been in McLaren's young driver programme since 1998, said getting a drive with the team was "a dream come true".

He faces the daunting prospect of partnering world champion Fernando Alonso, who will be making his McLaren debut after moving from Renault.

McLaren boss Ron Dennis acknowledged that promoting Hamilton was a gamble, but insisted he was a better prospect than any driver in F1 other than Alonso and former McLaren driver Kimi Raikkonen.

"He has earned his chance and he deserves this opportunity," Dennis said.

"Yes, there's a concern," Dennis said. "But I'm open about this concern.

"Both Lewis and the team have their eyes open and we will be very supportive. We have mapped out a very detailed programme to give him a grounding in all the different aspects of F1.

"By Australia [the first race], he will have been well prepared and well disciplined, and he will be as well equipped to handle it as we can make him."

Dennis said it was "not unrealistic" to expect Hamilton to win a race in his debut season "if we have a strong car, but certainly not in the early part of the season".

He added: "Statistically, Lewis is going to find it tough in the first few races of his Grand Prix career.

"You only have to look at the first few races of Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher to realise that unless he is something really exceptional, and that I doubt because they are two really exceptional drivers, you can't expect - and nor do we expect - immediate performance."

Hamilton's appointment means Spaniard Pedro de la Rosa will revert to being a test driver alongside another Englishman, Gary Paffett, who had been tipped for a race seat in another team.

Hamilton will join the McLaren team next week as they prepare for the 2007 season at the Circuit de Catalunya in Barcelona.

"To be racing in Formula One with McLaren has been the ulimate goal for me since I was very young," Hamilton said in a team statement.

"This opportunity is a fantastic way to end what has been the best year for me.

Ive seen Lewis Hamilton drive. There is no doubt, its not gonna be easy. F1 is the absolute pinnacle of Motorsport, and his new teammate has won the world title for the last two years.

But Hamilton isnt there as a marketing ploy. (although it will come in handy: first black driver, and he is a good looking boy). He is a seriously quick and aggresive driver, and If McClaren handle him properly he is gonna do real well in the long term.

 

[logansoldcigar]

 

[enterthemadness]

He doesn't look black. Looks mixed to me.

 

[November Rain]

boooooooooo....

what's happened to all the white sports...

tennis went with the serena sisters
golf went with the woody
now THIS...



meh, i'll always have swimming though...

 

[Avangarde]

Go the Mercedes-Benz, woot.

 

[SoulManX]

Congrads to him.

 

[GoldenAgeHero]

pfft he's not even a real black dude. he's mix.

 

[logansoldcigar]

He doesn't look black. Looks mixed to me.

I didnt realise he wasnt black enough to count as black. i do apologise.

mind you, tiger woods is mixed race too.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

At 21 he is very young to become a F1 driver and that is more phenomenal then the color of his skin.

However, Maclaran is not the same team as when you had both Prost and Senna driving for them.

 

[logansoldcigar]

cours it aint. but privateer teams cant survive anymore: look at williams. McClaren are half owned by Mercedes, so they will be back at the top end.

 

[Ahura Mazda]

cours it aint. but privateer teams cant survive anymore: look at williams. McClaren are half owned by Mercedes, so they will be back at the top end.

I suppose you are right.

 

[Mentok]

Pitty they stuck him in a McLaren

 

[Darthphere]

So hes is like the Tiger Woods of Formula 1? Or the bryant Gumbel of Formula 1?

 

[sassycat]

pfft he's not even a real black dude. he's mix.

 

[Mentok]

So hes is like the Tiger Woods of Formula 1? Or the bryant Gumbel of Formula 1?

I honestly never thought I would ever come across that statement.

 

[Darthphere]

I honestly never thought I would ever come across that statement.

The world turns, things change, people die.

 

[Wilhelm-Scream]

Pitty they stuck him in a McLaren

Always trying to keep the Black man down.

 

[Mentok]

I blame the evil germans!

 

[Darthphere]

Are there jewish Formula 1 drivers?

 

[Mentok]

There was a guy in 2005... Not sure if there was a Jewish driver this year.

 

[Buttman]

I don't see what it is about "OMG ! 1ZT BLAK GUI 2 EAT PUDDIN LUL !!!1" surely just pointing out "You're black. Have a medal." Is racist? Surely we're past this?

 

[Mentok]

So I guess talking about the first female F1 driver would be sexist then?

 

[logansoldcigar]

theres been one. she was rubbish

 

[Mentok]

There have been a few Female drivers.

 

[logansoldcigar]

I don't see what it is about "OMG ! 1ZT BLAK GUI 2 EAT PUDDIN LUL !!!1" surely just pointing out "You're black. Have a medal." Is racist? Surely we're past this?

No, its pointing out how the guy has opened a door to a sport that was considered to be the province of the white and far eastern middle classes (cos its bloody expensive). Just like when naryan karthikeyan became the first indian driver in F1. Its showing how his talent has carried him through (McClaren contracted him at 13. hes that talented)

Far as Im concerned, anyone that is a pathfinder deserves contgratulations for it.If he was the first white driver in F1 i would be saying the same thing.If he was the youngest in F1 i would be saying the same thing. instead, he's the first black guy in f1. and he deserves congratulations for breaking through that particular barrier