Originally Posted by Brian 162

Don't forget Ludwig Heimrath Scott Goodyear, and Paul Tracy

Originally Posted by DJF1

I think part of the problem Imre is jealousy. There are a lot of people who take issue with success and successful people, at one point in my career I faced exactly that. Jealousy and vile made up lies which were transmitted in "stories". I tend not to believe them because of my own exposure to that kind of ugliness. I would venture to say that Lance must have a very thick skin to overcome the jealousy and vile that is thrown against him. All because his Dad bought/guaranteed his way in. If I had his money I would have done the same for my son. we all within our means provide the best for our kids. I find absolutely nothing wrong with that. If we can afford it, wouldn't we all support our kids with the best education that we can afford? Why would that be wrong or any different than Stroll Sr. supporting his son's passion and ability? Lance he is an F4 Italian Champ, an F3 Euro Champ and 2 time podium finisher in F1 so far with inferior machinery. He outqualified his vastly more experienced teammate not only once and during the first 10 laps of the last race he was posting FTD's lap after lap. To call him incompetent, not worthy of an F1 drive, Daddy's cash etc I think its misplaced and unfounded. The guy, money or not, he has that something that cant be taught by any teacher to be able to not only drive but drive competitively an F1 car. He does have a unique ability that only a small percentage of the population has. The same thing went for Rosberg. how many people were on the same bandwagon about him like Lance? In his early Mercedes years with Schumi, everyone was saying that Schumi was not as fast as he once was, that is why Rosberg was faster...But was he??? Rosberg is the only one so far really that beat Hamilton in the same machinery in the last few dominating years. it may have taken the best out of him to do it, but he did it. He was a special talent all along, but people from the get go branded him Daddy's name and cash, much like Lance. How about Mick Schumacher? Is he also Daddy's cash? How about our last Canadian World Champ. JV? WHERE will this stop????

To get to F1 you need money. Lots and lots of money. Is it fair? as much as I would like to think that its unfair, it is what it is. It started as a " Gentleman's sport" a sport for the wealthy and it does continue to be. All the F1 drivers really come supported, either by family or sponsors. To crack the door open then you need money. Lots of money. Once you are in though you need talent to keep your job. One might say, Stroll Sr has given job security to Jr. Sure. I buy that. what I dont buy is that he is void of talent. Compare the other pay driver Latiffi. Stroll in his first year at Williams he scored a podium. Latiffi keeps on spinning like a ballerina even though he is vastly more experienced racer and older than Lance. Was he short in cash in his career? i doubt it. Can he drive an F1 car. Sure. I think he is the typical pay driver. Fast enough to circulate around without been totally embarrassed, but that is that. Lance is not that driver.

Some will argue about talent and how you define it. I take my own incompetence as an example and examples of talent I see in my 10 year old. I raced with PCA. Not successfully. That was my dream. It took money to accomplish I was fine with that. Never went in with grand dreams. My son did his first full season of racing in Karts at our local club. He blew the doors off other kids based on his own talent and ability. His last race, he posted the FTD for ALL classes that raced that day, young to old. In the same kart he was a full second faster than any other kid that day that raced that Kart that day. Hes had minimal coaching really. He can be the fastest on the day or mess it up as its all in his head. When he is on it, he is something else. He made a pass on his last race that was awesome. It was precise and surgical. At the end I told him of how great that was and he just looked at me and said "it was all planned". "I worked on it the previous lap, saw what he was doing and I knew exactly what to do." I smiled, that type of thinking as a rookie in the heat of the intense karting battles requires that bit of special something that I know he did not get from me. Does that make him an F1 prospect? I dont have the money to find out really, but what it demonstrated to me loud and clear the difference between the have's and the have not's. I think Lance is on the have's category, Latiffi is on the have not's.

I watched the GP live via the F1 TV. F1TV is absolutely awesome. Right before Lance's pit stop he has started loosing ground due to graining. Still when he was asked by his engineer to box, Lance said no... he asked do we have to do this? He was forced to pit and with the front wing issue, he was a done deal. If he had stayed out where would have he finished? Why the team did not bring Perez in too?? If Lance was the problem wouldn't the team pull in Perez in as he is in everyone's eyes a superior driver, a talent etc???

I just think the kid deserves a break from hate spiting public. He was lucky to be born in money and its not his fault. He has not committed a crime either. It is everyone's choice to support him or not. I personally think he drove the doors of this car in that race with so much adverse condition, you cant do that if you are not talented enough, so out of his performance he has won my support and I hope that he does well.

here is an article from people who unlike us, are experts:
https://www.autosport.com/f1/news/15...eoff-pole-laps

Originally Posted by Imo000

Our kids will never get to any level of professional competition because we don't have the funds for it.

Originally Posted by 500

But, I would also observe that the the two guys with 14 world championships between them both came from humble backgrounds...

Originally Posted by 500

I completely agree with the point that you and others are making, that being wealthy is a huge advantage to advancing in racing. As well, although I believe Lance has more talent than pretty much anybody I know personally, he is not top-F1 level, just a notch or two below.

But, I would also observe that the the two guys with 14 world championships between them both came from humble backgrounds...

Originally Posted by Torontoworker

Not exactly. From the age of 10 he was being funded by Ron in karting. At one point when he was in his early teens he even had team mechanic's working on his car.

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/sport/mo...ennis-21834050

Originally Posted by Imo000

Lance got lucky by staying out of the $hitsow. Perez is the one that drove fantastically and I feel really sorry for Russell. But that's racing, sometimes you get lucky so take it because it doesn't happen too often.