Dennis: Hamilton will be in F1 next year

By Jonathan Noble Tuesday, May 30th 2006, 09:43 GMT


Ron Dennis believes GP2 series leader Lewis Hamilton will be in Formula One next year, but the McLaren chief said he was unsure with which team the 20-year-old will make his debut.

Dennis has helped guide Hamilton's career since karting and, on the back of his front-running form in GP2 this year, he believes that the youngster is now ready to make the step up to F1 in 2007.

"Lewis's first step is to succeed in GP2 and then we will guide him to the next and highest level," Dennis was quoted as saying to the Times.

"Will he be in Formula One next year? I believe he will be. With which team? I don't know yet."

Hamilton is an obvious candidate to join McLaren next year, but he has also been singled out as a possible future target by Renault boss Flavio Briatore.

Another possibility is with the new McLaren-backed Direxiv team, who are considering entering F1 in 2007.

Dennis said over the Monaco Grand Prix weekend that Hamilton was definitely an option for his team, but claimed it was too early to make any firm commitment about who would partner Fernando Alonso.

"Obviously our own driver line-up is still open in respect of one of the two seats," Dennis said. "Many people ask, is there any possibility of him (Hamilton) driving? Well, it's not impossible but it's just one of the options.

"We don't know whether either of the drivers will stay with us or go, it's just too early in the season to make those sort of decisions.

"When we have to take a decision, we will."

"We don't know whether either of the drivers will stay with us or go, it's just too early in the season to make those sort of decisions."

"Kimi will leave us."

Lewis is a bit of a prodigy...I hope he does well in F1.

Alonso-Hamilton at Macca in 2007.

Sources say it's already a done deal.

Should be a titanic battle.

:D

Yeah man, people just dont know, how big this is.

mw

I'd love for Lewis to go to Macca - Then I can still wear my nifty jacket. Lewis is a cutie. Yup. I said it.

And no - there will be no tattoos...

It's amazing to me that he will be the person of first afro descent (black) decent in F1. There have been 4 women and no blacks. Ever. I don't think it's from a racist point because there are drivers from all over the world that have had a drive.

I am proud of him and he seems to be the real deal. He showed a lot of maturity by not beating the hell out of Premat when he spun him out of the lead with 3 corners to go in Spain. Can you imagine a Nico/Hekki/Lewis/Speed battle in 5 years?

JoD, you couldn't get a tat of him, his helmet sucks.

He's an inspiration like you wouldn't believe--my kids will have someone to look up to in a dozen years.

He's an inspiration like you wouldn't believe--my kids will have someone to look up to in a dozen years.

Dozen?.....how about next year............my son has a HUGE head start !! lol.

Like when I saw Willy T. Ribbs at Cleveland Indy Car race in 1993 !!

Myles

Dozen?.....how about next year............my son has a HUGE head start !! lol.

Like when I saw Willy T. Ribbs at Cleveland Indy Car race in 1993 !!

Myles
Well, seeing as how we're starting a family in a few months, my kids will be 12 when they really get going in Karting or similar...

They'll get a steady died of Senna, Villeneuve (Gilles, not Jacques), Clark, Andretti, Hall, and Gurney until then.

Dozen?.....how about next year............my son has a HUGE head start !! lol.

Like when I saw Willy T. Ribbs at Cleveland Indy Car race in 1993 !!

Myles
I recently dug up an old home video from the '88 Sears Point TransAm race, and thought it was cool when I just now noticed a yound Bill Lester chatting up Willy T. at his transporter.

I recently dug up an old home video from the '88 Sears Point TransAm race, and thought it was cool when I just now noticed a yound Bill Lester chatting up Willy T. at his transporter.

Yeah, I was a regular at any Indycar race east of the Missi, from 93' to 96' and spent alot of time in Ribbs' pit and many lunches with Sam Belnavis talking about why corporate America wasn't fond of Ribbs for "INDYCAR"..

Very frustrating situation back then. Premier sports car racer cant get a 9mil a year Indycar drive and yet MANY, MANY others who finished 19th, 20th and 21st came back year after year, after year until the late nineties when the popularity died off. I used to see the short and long list of potential sponsors for Ribbs. In early 96' I remember hearing about all the super wealthy corporate minority businesses and minority celebs that Walker Racing and Bill Cosby approached all to be turned down, and that was with Ford contributing 5mil, leaving 4mil for it to happen. Remember, Cosby fronted ALL his endorsement earnings from 92' to 94' for Ribbs to be in Indycar with 1 and 2 year old equipment. It wasnt until 95' that he was using current year car and that year he did the best he ever did in open wheel racing. Not well enough, as by the end of the season it was over. And Ribbs stayed out of the spot light til 2001 when he fell under the politically starving microscope of NAscar and Dodge. He started the season in a CRaftsmen truck under Dodges "Diversity program". With lack luster performances except for running as high as 3rd at the season opener, before breaking the shifter, Ribbs failed to deliver for the remainder of the seaon.

I spoke to Sam Belnavis most of that season and he really shed alot of light on this figure I had come of idealize for the last 10 years. With a new family and Dodge already eyeing up the younger Bill Lester, Ribbs would finally hang up his Helmet at the end of 2001.

Very frustrating.

So to see Hamilton get this opportunity, makes me very happy. Prime example of what can happen when talent is paired with the right support.

Myles

been waiting for him to go into F1 since i saw him in Macau for the F3 race a couple of years back.

premat won that year, but only after nico and lewis took themselves out at Lisboa.

man, what a race until they crashed out, unbelievable pace :)

Myles,

Hamilton is indeed going to be worth watching in 2007. I can't wait to see him on an official team roster. (move over DC, here comes Hamilton)

Myles,

Hamilton is indeed going to be worth watching in 2007. I can't wait to see him on an official team roster. (move over DC, here comes Hamilton)

you mean jpm
i don't see RBR having room for anyone other than the guys that are on their development ladder

Not to mention RD letting Hamilton drive a Newey designed chassis against his own team.

I could see Speed out next year, I hate to say it but he hasn't made a splash here (although hopefully that will change after Indy) and his performances haven't been earth shattering. Klien could be out though too to allow DC and JPM in.

Yup, Speed has been shown the door by Liuzzi in most places.
the only team I can really see Lewis going to in 07 other then McLaren is maybe Midland/whataeva the hell the investors might call it. All the other teams bar STR are direct competitors or not fast enough to show his speed. We all know RD wont want Lewis to apear slow to anyone.
If it was 08 already I could see him at Dave Richards new Prodrive team. I just want to see him in F1.

Yup, Speed has been shown the door by Liuzzi in most places.
the only team I can really see Lewis going to in 07 other then McLaren is maybe Midland/whataeva the hell the investors might call it. All the other teams bar STR are direct competitors or not fast enough to show his speed. We all know RD wont want Lewis to apear slow to anyone.
If it was 08 already I could see him at Dave Richards new Prodrive team. I just want to see him in F1.
Sadly, Speed is a product of a marketing initiative, not his dominant racing pedigree. Good driver, no doubt, but if he wasn't American, he wouldn't be in F1. Pretty simple.

The whole "winning at least one race in GP2" thing is serious qualifier of ability. He never won, his team mate did, and rather than spend another year in GP2 refining his skills and track knowledge, Dieter opted to throw him into F1 prematurely. I don't blame Speed, but do question if he'll be able to grow properly in the wake of his early advancement to F1.

Katherine Legge is suffering the same "I needed 1 more year in the feeder series to be ready when I make the big jump" ordeal. I also hope she recovers successfully.

Lewis, on the other hand, is dominating from the outset. The 2005/2006 coming man, Premat, is looking decidely desperate in a year he was expected to cement his F1 readiness.

Rough game this motorsports is...

speed's teammate at iSport was Can Artam, and I don't think he won any races last year.
however, he only hung on to 3rd in the championship by the slimmest of margin; definitely not in the same league as Heikki or Nico.

i don't think a 2nd year in GP2 would do any good to speed's market value. ammermuller is blowing the doors off Lapierre who IMO (only) is quicker than Speed. Speed can't even touch Nelsinho, nevermind Premat/Hamilton.

Premat never stood a chance against Hamilton. I believed that in 2004 and i still stand by it. AP only won macau cuz nico and lewis took themselves out. If it wasn't for that, he'd been a distant third.

the current batch of french drivers in the lower formulae all lack that extra grit to make it thru. Watching Lapierre drive in gp2 is utterly frustrating.

edit: i think the more prudent thing to do would've been to sign Speed as a third driver for RBR. this way he can at least learn directly from DC.

speed's teammate at iSport was Can Artam, and I don't think he won any races last year.
however, he only hung on to 3rd in the championship by the slimmest of margin; definitely not in the same league as Heikki or Nico.

.

You're right--I apologize. What I intended to say was Neel Jani, '05 GP2 competitor and 'below' him now in the STR pecking order, won last year where Speed did not. Jani is more deserving of Speed's seat than Speed is.

Premat might not be desitned for greatness, but based on his '05 GP2 season and A1GP success, was expected to be THE force this year along with Piquet. Not so.

Alonso and Hamilton... yes, that's going to be cool.

but don't count out Kimi in a reliable car. :)

Well Lewis is doing well and proving he is worthy of being in F1. He probably wears an old Kool Moe Dee shirt from the " How ya like me now" tour.....:lol:

sorry couldnt resist.

Go Hammi !!

Myles:)

Looking back, it seems that we are all very smart. :D

Nice bump-from-the-dead Myles!!! :D

Hamilton is definitely an awesome driver and put on an impressive display of driving during Malaysian GP (especially the first 5-6 minutes!!!). I'm a fan! :cool:

It's really good to see him race at the pace he's already going. Not to mention keeping a cool head, even as you have two very quick Italian products at your heels. Ron Dennis really found/groomed a great driver in LH..

Looking back, it seems that we are all very smart. :D

Well, except for me. I was right about Klien being out...but bringing JPM in :lol:

Will he win a race this year? :)

Lewis Hamilton does look to be great.

I'm thinking he may take Monaco this year.

Will he win a race this year? :)

I'm going with yes.

i say wait and see how MaClaren reliabilty is the reast of the season we all know they have had problems with that in the past.

I think Macca should be okay this season. There is no reason why they shouldn't, even when it comes to reliability.

I'm still a Ferrari fan at heart, but it's just impossible not to root for Hamilton. I can't call myself a McLaren fan yet though because I still think Alonso is a tool :lol:

I'm officially on the Hamilton bandwagon. After his performance yesterday, I believe he will go down as one of the best drivers ever if he improves from here. And we have no reason to believe that he won't improve.

Looking back, it seems that we are all very smart. :D


if you saw him race 2 litre Renaults a few years ago, u'd know he's for real.

last time i got excited about someone in F1 was Senna, but man is Hamilton fun to watch.