Hamilton Denies the Finger 24/10/2007 Yes, folks, it's all about Lewis Hamilton's finger this week. Never were so many blogposts and comments devoted to one part of a Formula 1 driver's body as there have been to Lewis' wayward digit. Well, there was PitPass' attempt to focus on another aspect of Scott Speed's anatomy but that never really rose to the occasion...Alonso in 2006 predicts the futureIf you really want to get into the discussion, Keith Collantine's post on it is the place to be. But the story has already been denied by everyone that matters and it turns out to have originated from a Canadian newspaper that is not noted for exclusive interviews with F1 stars. The moving finger writes and points this time at misbehaving software, a fact explained with outstanding brilliance by Sidepodcast's post, Start Me Up.There is an interesting aspect of modern F1 racing that is highlighted by the incident, however. Take a look at this replica of a steering wheel from a Ferrari F2007 and ask yourself what it reminds you of. Could it be a computer game controller? One is certainly mimicking the other, perhaps because they perform such similar functions.And in this we may have stumbled upon the secret of Hamilton's success this year. I thought my older son, Mad, now 36 years old, was of the computer game generation but he assures me that he is nothing in comparison to those younger than himself. The Pootle, my son aged 16, bears this out; he is a blur of lightning in the game Halo. Hamilton fits nicely in between these two, undoubtedly a product of the computer revolution of the last twenty years, a man born to fiddle like a maestro with controller buttons in arcane combinations.Suddenly it becomes clear that his time in the simulator and the fabled video games with his buddy, Fernando, are merely indications of something that has been a part of Lewis' life virtually (pun intended) from birth. This guy is but the first of many who will be instantly at home in the cockpit of a Formula 1 car, the buttons falling naturally to his fingertips, his hands assuming the characteristic pose of the confirmed gamer. It is no wonder that he has been quick from day one in the sport.And now we see that it is impossible that the gearbox software glitch that lost him a championship could have been of his own making. Those fingers, so used to hitting the right button at the right time, cannot have erred this once, must have been seeking to correct the fault rather than accidentally cause it.I can remember that, when I first drove a car at the tender age of 14, everything fell naturally into place and my backside told me what the car was doing at any given moment. I was a wild one in those days and spent many a happy moment sideways in corners, my mother's illicitly borrowed car assisting my efforts with rear-engined glee - and it was always my rear end that formed the communication between the car and myself. How different it must be for today's F1 drivers, insulated from the normal behavior of a car on the limit by a welter of driver aids and massive downforce.With a flash like a revelation from the gods of Formula 1, it dawns on me at last: it's the finger, the blessed finger! All hail the mighty finger of the so-nearly-anointed darling of Britain, our boy Lewis!
Clive
Eric M. "Those fingers, so used to hitting the right button at the right time, cannot have erred this once, must have been seeking to correct the fault rather than accidentally cause it."I'm not so sure. I would consider myself a member of that "computer gamer" generation, and I would say I'm pretty dang handy at Halo, but that doesn't mean I don't accidentally blow myself up with a rocket launcher every now and then. ;) Date Added: 24/10/2007
Clive Oh, I know that feeling so well, Eric! Many is the time... :DBut hey, the Pootle would never do such a thing! Date Added: 24/10/2007
patrick I'm sure too many hours in front of the computer playing GP Legends and Prototype C helped me when I got into a Honda ProKart for the first time. There was one occasion when I wished I had a brake balance button to fiddle with too (not likely in a kart that only has rear-wheel brakes)Certainly wouldn't be surprised if Lewis' time in the (rather more sophisticated) Mclaren simulator has done him no harm. Date Added: 24/10/2007
Clive There is truth in what I wrote, Patrick, even though it was written tongue in cheek. And really, I suppose it's pretty obvious, seeing that the teams set so much store by simulators these days. I'm just an old guy marvelling at how times change... ;) Date Added: 24/10/2007
sidepodcast.com here's the thing.look at the bullet proof reliability of the mclaren this year. take into consideration that the team have yet to actually provide any kind of satisfactory reasoning for the problem occurring, or why it only affected a single car in a single race, and it looks to me more likely to be human error.the guy isn't a machine and he'd already made one huge mistake seven laps earlier, the pressure was on, adrenaline was flowing, he's only human. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive Yeah, but it's not about what is more likely, is it, Sidey? When the only people qualified to know say it wasn't human error and there's no evidence (in spite of Keith's much-debated video) to say otherwise, it seems a trifle unfair to continue to maintain that the man who first cleared Hamilton of blame is a liar.As we saw in the WMSC hearing, nobody should be convicted by what is "more likely" - it's the truth that matters. Date Added: 25/10/2007
John F Clive,My comment has to do with the gamer connection. Recently I was wondering when someone was going to point out the similarities of the streering wheel in F1 as well as in todays high tech fighter planes. As is evident with my son we only have to look at our youth and see that they can control anything from a game consol. I recall a movie a few years ago when an arcade game winner went into outerspace to fight aliens or something. The piont was that anykid who can master the control can fly or drive anything!! Date Added: 25/10/2007
sidepodcast.com the only people qualified to know... are paid to keep quiet (and biased).it's a debate between F1 fans, it's not a court, and no-one is going to be handing out fines based on our conclusions. so yes, in this case "more likely" is absolutely appropriate. to suggest that everyone should keep shtum, just because we're not mclaren engineers or lewis hamilton, is simply ridiculous. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive If my memory serves me correctly, John, that was the idea behind Arnie Schwarzenegger's Terminator movies too. That kid Arnie was always saving was the whizz on computer games and so was earth's best hope of beating the machines of the future. Or am I thinking of some other movie...?I guess every generation watches its children learn new and puzzling skills that defeat the oldies; it just seems to happen that much faster these days. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive Not my point, Sidey. Throwing mud is throwing mud and I think we should be certain before we do it. Yesterday I challenged Ron to check the net before condemning it as a hotbed of lies and innuendo. I even maintained that there are good sites that contain reliable and sound information. Let's be part of the answer to the internet's bad reputation, not just another proof that it's well deserved. ;) Date Added: 25/10/2007
sidepodcast.com is this throwing mud?http://www.sidepodcast.com/2007/10/25/its-all-your-fault/you may think it is, but i prefer "voicing an opinion". it's not lies and innuendo, but Ron wouldn't like it either.we *cannot* be certain in the "hamilton button" situation, so what do you suggest we do? we could:1) say nothing at all2) raise questions and voice opinions3) copy and paste the party line from autosport.comgiven that we have video and we have pictures and we have various sources of info. i don't see where anyone threw mud?keith occasionally has to moderate the odd comment, but generally i just see healthy discussion. i don't think ron would like it at all, but i bet flavio would if he were in a similar situation. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive I used to raise Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Sidey. Now why does that memory return to me when reading your latest comment? ;) Okay, okay, I'll hang on in there too.Throwing mud: I think the quote from your good self that I pasted into one of my comments on the Sidepodcast blog is a sufficient example, since it implies that Ron would go to great lengths to avoid the truth.I read your post about Ron and gave my response too. There's not much there that I disagree with but enough for me to think you're being a trifle unfair to poor old Ron. As I said, I await your future articles on him with interest.As for voicing an opinion, that is all I ever do. But there is a point at which we go too far. I'll give you an example that I'm not proud of but where I have managed to avoid going too far, I think.The whole McLaren espionage thing - it occurred to me very early on that it could easily be a trap that Ferrari set for McLaren - I have even seen it suggested in the forums. But it's something I would never put into my blog unless I was absolutely certain of my facts. It's basically a conspiracy theory and therefore best left alone, even though conspiracies do happen at times.No such restraint seems to have been exercised on the other side. McLaren are constantly accused of using the Ferrari documents although that has not been proven; Montezemolo went so far as to claim that the McLaren car was based on Ferrari technology, which is obviously not true.I would just like to see a bit more reason in the debate. Sure, I could sound off about what I really think and scandalise you all but what would be the point? I certainly wouldn't convince you although I might enjoy the release of steam. To me, it seems that the way to win a guy over is to stick as closely to the known facts as possible and not get too heated about things we feel strongly about.Another f'rinstance: tell me that Ron Dennis is a liar and my immediate response is "Prove it". But mention a few instances where he has said one thing one minute and the opposite the next and I'll listen to you. You came close with the Red Bulletin point, I admit that. But not close enough - it just indicates to me Ron's shortage of humour. Can't stone a man for that, can we?As for the rough and tumble of Keith's comment system, I love it! But note where Keith stands - in the middle, stopping people from coming to blows. And that is where we should be, trying to see both sides, and offering a view that is not entirely one-sided.Am I calling you one-sided? Well, I reckon you may have done that to me on the Scott Speed thing so yeah, you can have it back over Mr Dennis. :D Date Added: 25/10/2007
John F Should you guys get a room??? I feet alot of tension here. I do agree, we can speak of inuendo and theory if we want as long as it is understood to be a "theory". Truth on the other hand must be supported with fact. Did Hamilton hit the wrong button?? It is up to interpretation. The video is not concrete. Was he hitting a button because he lost power?? So I hate to say it but we have to believe the person who was there- - Hamilton. I read that he admitted that he hit the wrong button and I was actually proud of him for saying so. If I felt this way I am sure many others did. So if this is the case, by him denying it he does not come off as being sincere, BUT HE WAS THE ONLY ONE THERE. I am sure that Ron know that Lewis looks more mature by admitting that he made a mistake so if it was true he would have supported it this reinforces my last OPINION -- that he did not hit the button by mistake, that indeed he lost power and was trying to reset the car. I have no evidence otherwise. Now you two can continue to piss each other off about the theory of honesty on the web or you can agree to disagree. Clive,I did read yesterday a post by Keith telling blogers to stop being personal. A minor spanking but one none the less!!Sidepodcast.com I will read your blog tonight It will be the first time. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive I think we're done now, John - just a minor disagreement between guys who love a good discussion. ;)Keith was really referring to commenters who start insulting others - he deletes those, quite rightly. A bit of (ahem) healthy disagreement is quite allowable.You'll enjoy Sidey's blog and the delightful Christine - it's well designed, informative, only a bit biased when it comes to Ron Dennis and Scott Speed (joke, joke!), and a thoroughly good listen if you kick the podcast into life! Date Added: 25/10/2007
Eric M. Dammit! I thought that sidepodcast WAS Christine! I'm so disappointed. ;) Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive Well, she's very important to it, Eric! :D Date Added: 25/10/2007
Pootle Shit did I miss the McLaren party sign ups or something then? Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive You did Pootle. It was quite a knees up too - Hamilton showed everyone the relevant finger and Ron demonstrated the new dance craze, the Swivel. Alonso couldn't make it, unfortunately, but he did manage to send an email... Date Added: 25/10/2007
Dan M "Or am I thinking of some other movie...?" - Tron? Being a person born in the same year as Lewis, I think this discussion fits me well. I've been playing games a good majority of my life and I think it helps in many aspects. I believe there was a study that actually said that playing video games is good for surgeons because it improves their hand to eye coordination and there reflexes, two things that carry over to F1 driving.I have also been playing racing games for a good 10 years, its what first got me interested in F1. At this point, I could tell you every turn of Laguna Seca, Siverstone (new and old), Monza in order with no visuals..... sad I know. Maybe one of overlooked reasons Hamilton is able to push the car to its extreme is because hes been playing video games with no consequences. You crash you reset. Maybe this subconsciously carries over into his qualifying.PS: I would be curious to get your sons information to play Halo 3, I'm pretty sure every male under the age of 25 plays it. And 99% of the ones under 30. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive My sons introduced me to Halo a few years ago. After I had persuaded my old reflexes to wake up enough for me to be reasonably good at the game, I used to go online with with them, especially Pootle, and we would work as a team. One of the results of that collaboration can be read about here.I never experienced Halo 2 as it came out around the time I emigrated to the States but my sons reckoned it wasn't as good. They continued to play Halo online and the Pootle even became a colonel or something in a "clan". Halo 3 they have yet to report back to me on. I will ask them and let you know, Dan. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Pootle Halo 3, well the storyline is terrible but the gameplay/graphics/new features are actually pretty good. Of course the real test is online and I haven't tried that yet. I can see in some ways why gameplay might give an advantadge, for instance from Gran Turismo 4, the best driving game out there I know the full Nurburgring. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Mad I'll concur with Poot, Halo 3 is pretty good in campaign mode if you can ignore the nonsensical story line. I have no idea how good it will be online. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Dan M Rename the site Halo Insight. Going online with Halo 3 is extremely fun, but as in all things that include the general public, sometimes the experience is ruined by the ignorant. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive Sounds just like the forums, Dan. ;)Hmmm, how about a joint Halo blog, Pootle? Date Added: 25/10/2007
chunter I only have three things to say regarding my remarkable resemblance to this comment...I will repeat again that my introduction to Formula 1 was the arcade game "Pole Position".I believe it was Jaques Villenueve that said he learned all the circuits from playing the computer game.I read in an article that was complaining about subcompact streetracer wannabe's the very simple statement: "Real drivers don't drive with their thumbs. Your used car drives nothing like Gran Turismo."I'll add a fourth statement; I suck at first person shooters, Halo included, but my friend and I can play Sega Rally for hours in the "gain a +3 second gap on your opponent" mode. Date Added: 25/10/2007
Clive Hmmm, sounds to me like an undiscovered talent, Chunter. I wonder if Subaru might be interested... Date Added: 25/10/2007
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