15/07/2016
NEWS STORY
Is Lewis Hamilton good or bad for Formula One? That's the question the Pitpass team grapples with in the latest podcast following his stunning win at Silverstone.
There are positives and negatives, with editor Chris Balfe, Max Noble and Mat Coch looking at where the world champion adds value and where there's still room for improvement.
The consensus is that it's not Lewis who needs to pull up his socks but Mercedes, which has created a runaway train following its denial of comments made by Niki Lauda.
Nico Rosberg doesn't escape the wrath of the team either, with his Austrian Grand Prix misdemeanour leaving all scratching their heads. In theory the Pitpass trio like the aggression and intent from the German, though if it were Olympic diving the team would have given him zeros all round for his inept execution.
Indeed, they reason that his Red Bull road rage and subsequent performance at Silverstone is cause for concern.
Mercedes dominates this double-header podcast, what with Niki Lauda's comments (and retraction) and Rosberg's radio communications as the team discusses where to draw the line - though not quite exceeding the track limits - Noble suggests regulation size chalk boards and strict rules over the colour of the chalk be used as the sole means of contact mid-race.
Away from Mercedes, Ferrari has its decision to offer Kimi Raikkonen another contract analysed, the move inspiring one of several long outbursts from the editor. It's a statement of ambition all agree, but is that ambition ambitious enough for the Scuderia?
Though a keen fan of The Iceman, Balfe argues that the decision to retain the Finn evokes memories of those comfortable days when Gerhard Berger and Jean Alesi drove for the Scuderia, those days before the team got serious, recruited Todt, Brawn, Byrne and Schumacher and started winning.
Like Lewis' friendship with Nico, the latest podcast is really, really good, just don't ask the editor about his efforts to find a picture of 'two men by the pool'.
You can download the latest episode on iTunes here.
Android listeners can download or subscribe here.
Simply listen online here.
Alternatively You can also hear all Pitpass podcasts here here. (warning: external site)