Thread: Hamilton close to signing new contract (If he gets to keep his trophies?)

Originally Posted by Zico

Incredible... I wasn't aware that McLaren driver contracts specified that they (McLaren) got to keep the drivers race trophies, while the drivers got mere copies. Whats that all about?




"The Hungarian Grand Prix winner is expected to resolve his future over the summer break, with it now appearing almost certain that he will remain at the Woking-based team.

But speaking in the wake of his latest triumph, he has revealed that a 'push point' in the talks with be about trophies, with McLaren having historically always kept its drivers' winning silverware.

"Ron [Dennis] and the team have all the trophies in the cabinet and the drivers get replicas," Hamilton told the British media.

"In a lot of other teams, the drivers get their original trophies. As a racing driver, what you work for and what you want to take home are two things; one is your crash helmet and the other is your trophy. For me, they are priceless.

"I don't care if they don't give me a car [to keep], but those two things are what you put your blood and sweat into, and the team keep those at the moment. So whatever contract I'm having next, that is going to be a push point.

"I don't feel I have a tough decision to make. It is my career I'm talking about however - the last part of my [professional] life. It's the first time I've been in this position, so I guess it still remains an important decision."

McLaren has been aware of Hamilton's demands over the trophies for several weeks, and team principal Martin Whitmarsh told AUTOSPORT earlier this month that he was confident the matter would not get blown out of proportion.

"I've known Lewis a long time and I think we have a very good understanding on one another," he said. "I think there is a lot of mutual trust and respect - I hope and believe both ways. So I don't see that [the trophies] as a big issue. We will see."





Hamilton's unusual contract request - Yahoo! Eurosport UK



I think he has a point, dont you?

It has always been that way at McLaren. I remember Mika Hakkinen wanting to keep his as well and McLaren said that if he didn't like the situation that he could leave the team. I can't imagine McLaren changing this for Hamilton to be honest. They never did it for any other driver, so I don't see why they should do it for him.

I've always thought it tough on McLaren drivers that they don't get to keep their trophies, but it's in the contract they sign so they can't really have any argument.

I do recall one driver (DC I think) saying he'd kept the original trophy from a race win but had convinced Ron that McLaren had the original not a replica

I cant believe I'd never heard of that before. I wonder what the reasoning behind such an unfair clause might be... because they can?

There is no "I" in trophy .
And , there is no "I" in McLaren , either .

Wahhhhh .

Originally Posted by Bagwan

There is no "I" in trophy .
And , there is no "I" in McLaren , either .

Wahhhhh .

Apparently, there's an "I" in Ali G.

I can't see McLaren changing their traditions now.

Originally Posted by kfzmeister

Apparently, there's an "I" in Ali G.

Apparently, there's an "I" in Trophies - plural, which is what Lewis wants to keep - his TROPHIES!

Originally Posted by Mark

I can't see McLaren changing their traditions now.

I never knew about this "tradition". This is pretty stupid and I feel bad for McLaren's drivers. Maybe if McLaren change this policy it won't take another decade to win another WDC.

I think it was Brundle who said he has the original second place throphy after his nice drive in the 1994 Monaco GP.

I think he still has it and Mclaren have a copy.

It isnt just the driver that won the race, its the team that produce the equiptment capable of winning the race....

Yes they do....but the team also gets a trophy for being the winning constructor. At the moment McLaren is keeping 2 trophies per race win.

TBH I think Hamilton is more than within his rights to say "i'll have the original, you have the copy in your trophy cabinet".

Originally Posted by Mark

I can't see McLaren changing their traditions now.

Perhaps not while Ron Dennis is around.

Only McLaren would come up with a policy like that. Or perhaps I should say only Ron Dennis would come up with a policy like that. Never has there been a more anally retentive figure in the history of sport.

Originally Posted by Hawkmoon

Never has there been a more anally retentive figure in the history of sport.

Very successful though

Originally Posted by henners88

Jean Todt gave him a run for his money but Dennis wins it.

Todt wasn't even close. Todt would stop at nothing to win, sure enough, but I never got the impression that he cared whether his drivers grew a beard or got tattoos. Dennis on the other hand would have blown a valve if his drivers tried it on. Just ask Kimi and DC.

Originally Posted by ArrowsFA1

Very successful though

True enough. There's no denying the man knew how to run an F1 team and I respective him for it but you gotta admit, he was a bit of a w_nker.

Calling Ron anally retentive is not exactly an insult; more of a compliment.

This man has been a figurehead, an inspiration and a mantra for McLaren since he joined the team in 1980. His singleminded detirmination, workaholic approach and desire for perfection is legendary and has helped galvanise McLaren to be the globally envied outfit it is today.

Walking around the MTC you can see that strive for perfection in every facet whether it's in the presentation of the historic and current cars, the trophy lined corridors, the assembly of the new road cars or the preperation of the F1 cars. McLaren is a large corporation but more than just about any other organisation, is associated, identified with and inspired by one man.

Yep, if that anal, then I think that's a compliment.

As for the trophy issue, then that's something between McLaren and Lewis but personally, I love the fact that the real ones are held at Woking. I was lucky enough to get my mits on the 88 Hungrian GP drivers and constructors trophy a few years back and just holding and moving them scared me sh&tless because I know this was the real thing. However, I can also see Lewis's point of view. He won the drivers trophy and it's therefore his.

This wont be a big sticking point no matter how people want to blow it up. Lewis will re-sign with McLaren. He was never going anywhere else and long may it continue.

For me the situation is very funny, two big kids (Ron and Lewis) want to keep their toys at all cost. It will be funny if their successful partnership ends because of that silly argument.

Well, the way I see it there is the constructors and drivers trophies. The team should keep the constructors and the driver the teams. It's a team effort and that's why the constructors trophy is there but the driver is the key and they put their lives and everything on the line for both themselves and the team. They deserve to keep the drivers trophy at the end of the day. That's what it is there for.

I would love to see McLaren not budge and neither Lewis. That would leave Lewis without a drive. Then where would he go?