Lewis – maestro in the making

The Monaco Grand Prix on Sunday was one of the most spectacular races in recent times. Not for the numerous crashes and constant chaos alone, but more importantly for the fact that it witnessed the coming of age of Lewis Hamilton.

In a matter of two hours and 75-odd laps, Hamilton proved beyond any doubt that he is a maestro in the making and not merely a champion in waiting. The Monaco victory should certainly go down as a masterpiece, a class act and become a case study for courage and strength of character.

The 23-year-old Briton was in a league of his own, in a different race and with no real rival to speak of. Except for a minor misdemeanour in the sixth lap when he damaged his right rear tyre, Hamilton was almost flawless even though cars crashed all around him and littered the track with debris.

The incident-filled and action-packed race on the streets of the Mediterranean principality was a real test of not only driving skill but also basic will under dramatically changing landscape. But Hamilton was up and ready for it.

Be it rain or shine, wet or dry, the McLaren driver did not let anything bother him in his  pursuit of emulating his boyhood hero Aryton Senna by winning the glamour Grand Prix. As he admitted at the end of the race, this will be the highlight of his career.

The full extent of Hamilton’s achievement can be seen in the debris left behind by the other drivers, including reigning champion Kimi Raikkonen, double world champion Fernando Alonso and championship contender Felipe Massa. For dramatic effect, add to the list the oldest driver on view David Coulthard and Giancarlo Fisichella who was driving in his 200th Grand Prix.

Each of the above drivers made costly mistakes, erred in judgement and were found wanting when the heat was on. Alonso was repeatedly heard asking for help on the radio, Coulthard crashed twice, Massa went off the track while leading, Fisichella gave up prematurely and above all Raikkonen not only messed up his own race but also wrecked Adrian Sutil’s chances of giving Force India its first points.

It was almost comical, and even understandable if it had happened on Exhibition Road on Thursday night – a careless driver with one hand on a mobile and the other clutching a coke can crashing into the car ahead and bringing the traffic to a screeching halt.

But at Monte Carlo, Raikkonen did not stop after crashing into poor Sutil, who till then was having a fantastic race, remember he had already clocked a fastest lap and lapped McLaren’s Heikki Kovalainen, and well on his way to finishing fourth. The Finn just kept going over the debris while Sutil had to return to the garage and eventually retire with just seven laps to go.

Elsewhere, BMW’s Nick Heidfeld and Nico Rosberg of Williams were also involved in high-speed crashes. The numbers just kept piling on that most of the teams were in danger of running out of new nose cones.  

But Hamilton had no such problems. He kept his nose clean and tidy and the race well under control, particularly towards the closing stages when the tension was becoming increasing unbearable.

In the end it was a victory which would have even made Senna or Schumacher proud, coming as it did from third on the grid and in rain and shine and amidst growing carnage. No doubt luck favoured Hamilton but then luck is known to favour the brave, isn’t it?

Racing legend Jackie Stewart perhaps best summed up Hamilton’s heroics. “You need luck here but when you get it you need to be in a position to take advantage of that,” said Stewart after the race. “And Lewis did. It was treacherous out there. He did a great job.”

For good measure Stewart added: “At his age he can win here many times. He has got the car, which you need, and he has the undoubted talent, so I think this will be the first of many.”

Senna won six times in Monaco. Hamilton has just won his first. The Briton is also back at the top of the drivers’ table with 38 points, three ahead of Raikkonen with six races down and out. Great times are ahead of us indeed.