“I know Lewis is really sad about what happened. I would say he is broken…” Ben Sulayem.
I move to strike the word “broken” as a psychological descriptor of human beings. When I see it applied to someone as fortunate as Lewis Hamilton, has it not all gone too far? 
Fortune, wealth, whatever, doesn’t make someone immune to suffering mental health issues. Particularly someone whose life is played out so publicly.
Rubbish. Humanity is increasingly mentally soft. If a decision in a single race goes against him and he’s “broken” by it, he deserves his mental anguish. (In fairness to Hamilton, he didn’t use the word, so I’m not cracking on him) And if he wants to boycott the gala, so be it. Fair play to him.
For Ben Sulayem and other hyberbolic seekers of PTSD: Many, many, many more important things in life than a motor race, a cup, an eighth championship. I’m sooooo tired of weepy humanity. Where has the stiff upper lip gone? I liked it better.
Hamilton did not say “I am broken.”
Someone else said that, of him. At that point it’s a matter of degree, and how we use language.
Broken like a spousal death, or death of a child? Broken like losing job, and facing eviction from home? Broken after seeing the horrors of war up close?
I’m sure it’s nowhere near.
So I have some sympathy with the view that we use language inappropriately. And I am definitely coming from the stiff upper lip perspective too.
Still, no matter the wealth and fame, I’m sure Hamilton is struggling right now… gutted, disappointed, angry, disconsolate, feeling cheated, let down, isolated, and so on.
Broken? That’s hyperbolic, in relation to the usual way we say that word.
Mind you, I blame Starbucks for all this. Language has gone to pot. I grew up with small, medium and large. Language meant something. But they’ve got me saying tall, grande and venti.
There is something special about a red Ferrarri which makes me always look out for them.
I do also like Mercedes as a brand / constructor and no matter what you think of him Hamilton is a class operator behind the wheel.
Not sure why he is so disliked really.
As an Englishman, I like to follow an Englishman in F1 if the option is there. Basically, I want to see them do well.
As a sports fan, I want to watch anything good, and can appreciate and admire excellence when it is on show, no matter what the nationality. Also, as a sports fan, I like to watch talent emerge, so there’s a couple I will be watching with interest next season.
For the constructors I’m not overly bothered, as it is secondary to the drivers, but all else being equal, I’d like to see England do well, and have a soft spot for McLaren (dream car to buy with a big lottery win) and what Williams achieved was phenomenal too.
He literally risk his life every day in pursuit of his craft. This is not the demo to go looking for pussies.
Ben Sulayem hasn’t driven a race car since the 1990s, long before the term “broken” came into its current, unfortunate, hyperbolic overuse.
It was a total stitch up. We all knew that. The title should be given to Lewis or shared if they want to be dicks about it.
Michael Masi loses his race director post - he’s now the equivalent of the VAR ref of F1…errr that could be even worst!
It looks like F1 are actually doing stuff to ensure things like last seasons antics (and deciding who would wear the champs crown) won’t happen again.
Certainly glad Lewis is back.
In no particular order:
Hamilton was never going anywhere. His ego couldn’t handle being away from the sport. Unfortunately.
Don’t see why he would retire after an ending like that, I always believed it would only make him more motivated for the following season. He said retiring was never really an option, but he opted to take a break and just focus on family matters. Go into silent mode and wait for the new season. Now, he’s mentally fresh to go again.
I’d like nothing more than for Lewis to absolutely demolish the field this year and then bow out as the undisputed most successful driver of all time.
“We looked at our bank balance and it’s ok if we don’t go there*
Mazepin banned from attending the British GP - I wonder if other motorsport associations will be following suit. Got to feel for the lad a bit - that said, I’m pretty sure his funding has ties to the Kremlin too…
I have some sympathy but his family dubiously acquired their wealth. On a separate note, he’s fucking terrible.