For me It´s simple, every greats drivers have one or two bad races, and LH still hasnt done, if LH is mentally prepared for that moment he will win sure.
By the way, what a lot of Spaniards around here...., is it not?. One write the word Alonso in his blog and the place is filled with Spaniards hehehe.
Well i go with the music to other place ;-).

ManoloEscobar, Almeria, Spain

I've been watching F1 for 39 years, I didn't go ape about James Hunt - Lauda was the superior driver in that tussle.
I wasn't swept up in the Nigel / Damon bandwagons and think that Button will always be a 'nearly' man. However LH is a totally different proposition. His consumate, calm skill puts him way in front of the rest of his contemporaries.
For the record (for the benefit of our Iberian friends) but for team tactics (NOT orders!) he would have won at Monaco. Furthermore, I think that Alonso should be grateful to LH for sorting the McLaren so effectively both in in winter testing and over the 06 season, rather than the reverse. No one in the UK is saying Lewis must win, those of us who have seen a few things can see the mark of brilliance that has few competitors and will carry on improving. If Alonso is having touble already, how much worse will it be for him when Monza comes around?

Phil Markham, Grimsby,

All: If Lewis H. doesn't become WDC this year, it will not be Alonso that beats him. It will be because Ferrari has found their stride and marched past McLaren. Alonso is now an emotional wreck, we got a glimpse of it in Montreal, and most definitely at Indy.

People keep saying that it's still early in the season. However, to quote the nutty American baseball player Yogi Berra: "It gets late awfully early around here". Alonso has to make a profound statement within the next two races. Those will be races 8 & 9 an a 17 race calendar. If he does not cut into Lewis' lead by the end of Silverstone, game over. Alonso has gone on record, saying that Magny Cours is his best track. What would it do they his physche if Lewis were to trump him there too? The WDC picture will be much clearer after Silverstone. About it being still too early to tell, TICK-TOCK.

Keith Oxford, New York City, USA

Both Alonso and Hamilton are great drivers. This will be and amazing F1 Championship.

I think it is still too early to judge the value of Hamilton. He has the opportunity to drive a great car, ando to learn from the experience of Fernando. Obviously Lewis is a very talented pupil.

But we can not forget all the records of Alonso, and that he started in a small team (Minardi), and I think it was a great training.

In any case, the rivalry of Alonso and Lewis is good for us, the public. So, do your bets.

Yago, Barcelona, Spain

Can Hamilton win - certainly. Will he win - theres a good chance. I would probably still put my money on Alonso because of his experience - but this si certainly a competiton and not a foregone conclusion.
For all those saying that Hamilton is not a great driver because he hasnt driven Minardis or he has not won the world championship - I do not understand their reasoning.
Hamilton is driving the same car as Alonso. As a rookie he is 10 points ahead after 7 races. That proves he is a great driver. Alonso seems to be feeling the pressure more than Hamilton. (There is no way he would have expected a rookie to be beating him).
What we havent seen is how Hamilton will be after he has a major upset. Will a car failure affect him mentally....
Alonso has done it all. He has fought against Schumacher to win the world title etc. That makes him a great driver.
Hamilton has had a podium finsih every one of his 7 starts. He can do it - and he will only get better. So lets enjoy a good contest

Colin, St Neots, England

Patricia, Alonso had the 10 second penalty at Montreal but managed to catch up with the action when the pace car was out. Every time the pace car went back into the pits Hamilton drove away from the field, including Alonso. Alonso also spent a lot of time driving off road. At the US race Alonso had one chance to overtake and couldn't make it stick. Hamilton looks like the smoothest of the drivers and obviously makes less mistakes. Providing the car doesn't break down there is no reason why Hamilton shouldn't win the F1 World Championship.

David Leslie, Perth, Scotland

Yes, Lewis does have enough balls to be a world´s champion his first year at F1 with the McLaren, no question, but it does not mean he will win it. This season has just started!, calm down. When Alonso was likely to win his first driver´s championship, i was affraid of the press here in Spain, because was able to push the pilot to the title as to a big big accident. The message for Louis must be "you can win", not "you must win". Cheers

Zabalza, Bilbao, Spain

I get the feeling that all the people posting here to announce that Alonso is better than Hamilton will soon be eating their badly chosen words . Pass the salsa please . Mmmmm

Just to clarify , for those who seem a little confused ...The best driver is the one that wins the championship at the end of the season .

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Ron Dennis is not known for his charity, in racing, and has always had experienced drivers. If Hamilton is in a McLaren car in his rookie season, it is because Dennis knows that he has something special. So far Hamilton has not let him down.
Looking at the post race interviews, Alonso was shattered and looked depressed. Motor racing is also a mental game and at the present Alonso is on the defensive. I is going to be an interesting season!

Rick, Houston, Tx. USA

Fernando Alonso is better than Hamilton, he`s very young. Alonso will be the champion this year, i´m sure.

Jack, London,

Hamilton vs. Alonso. Of course Alonso is the best one between them, but Hamilton will have his opportunity to let us know that in the future he will be like Alonso. he's dynamic, but needs to be a man about it and encourage & compete rather than make up excuses as to why he's not at the top of the drivers championship at the moment. McLaren is our team, but is more Hamiltons' than Alonsos'. Here we all want to see Hamilton winning, but in two or three years ...now it's ALONSO our best driver an value.

Carlos, Pullman, U.S. / WA

It's rather amusing that the majority of our Spanish friends repeatedly parrot, with Latin spirit and wisdom..."Alonso is (present tense) the best driver".
On what criterium? Look at the facts of the moment.
1) Hamilton has outqualified Alonso in last two starts.
2) And he has won both these races also
3) Both drivers have the same equipment at their disposal.
Even an expat Pom can see that these facts are solid, leading to the conclusion that at this point in time, Hamilton has the edge over Alonso. What happens in the remainde of the season remains to be seen. Competition is healthy and I wish both guys well. Whoever prevails will be a worthy champion and should be accepted as such by all natinalities. Do we agree on this Pablo, Mario et al?

Steve Proud, Christchurch, New Zealand

Life after Death? For some fans, Schumacher retiring signalled the death of F1 as we know it. Enter Hamilton who has injected new life into F1, a name that will no doubt go down in history as one of the greatest drivers of all time. Go Hamilton! Murray Walker would scream.

Melanie Bull, Düsseldorf, Germany

Hey Brits, congratulations, I know how it feels like when you got a star... but be careful because the only ones that can jeopardise his glorious momentum are you, inparticular the British media. I'm definitively an Alonso's fan, but I like F1, so I can clearly see that Hamilton has already prove he is one of the top drivers, he can beat Alonso, it is a fact. Enjoy that. But don't be wrong, Massa, Raikkonen have already beat them both this year, so they are also at the top. Therefore, to be at the top, to be able to beat Alonso makes you good (aparently...) but by no means makes you F1 world champion. As I said, Massa and Raikonen have beat Alonso last year as some others did, but he was the world champion at the end. Lets enjoy Hamilton's miracle, but keep the feet on the earth. Perhaps at the end of the season we may have more to celebrate from him, but as Alonso has said lots and lots of times: we will know it at the end of the season. So please Britts, be smart, you know you can..

Antonio V, Chesterfield, Derbyshire

Ultimately its transpiring that Hamilton is fast becoming the best F1 driver in the world, he's young, vibrant, full of confidence and knows he can win. Alonso, he's dynamic, but needs to be a man about it and encourage & compete rather than make up excuses as to why he's not at the top of the drivers championship at the moment.

Jess, London,

(Mos Def) most definitely!

Lewis is fulfilling his dream, fulfilling his part of the bargain and he wants nothing to stand in his way whether it be team-mate or team tactics, Alonso or Ron Dennis. Lewis feels this is his destiny and nothing aint gonna stop him from fulfilment.

So yeah he can win the world title and at the first attempt.

Jason Walker, Oxford, UK

Please British, have patient. I know Hamilton is giving all of you the opportunity to dream with a Championship but do not put too pressure on him and please journalists, be fair and do not despise Alonso. To dream with Hamilton as the 2007 Champion do not imply to humiliate Alonso. I though you were more elegant.

Joaquin, Madrid, Spain

What's funny is that although all the Spaniards have confidence in Alonso, he showed that in the Canadian GP Hamilton's confidence and driving skills were putting far too much pressure on him as a driver to get into first place and stay there. If Alonso was the best in the world at the moment, would he not be beating the rookie and not feel threatened by Hamilton as a driver?

Alistair, England,

I'm also Spanish and I beleieve that Hamilton is a great driver but he needs lots of things to be world champion. Finally, I believe that this driver's championship is for Fernando

Manu, Zamora, Spain

Hamilton is good, but who has the number one is Alonso, because if Alonso didnt win the last championship Hamilton doesnt have the number 2...

Beatriz Guerrero, Malaga, Spain

Hamilton is a very fast, very good driver. He is also very lucky to drive the best car this season. Alonso is the best , the most complete formula one driver . Mind you , he is human, and may not win this season. Still early days, but I expect the Ferraris to react in the next coming races, and then who is going to fend them off, Hamilton or Alonso ?

Juan Ignacio Azpeitia Garcia, Dumbarton, Scotland U.K.

Okay- I am British and support of course Hamilton. But Alonsa is experienced and question is; does Hamilton have the nerve and stamina to keep pace. I think its not beyond him to win F1 in first season- the guy has been racing since 8 years old and knows how to handle any car. This was obvious when he had a faultless race and win on the weekend.

Adam, Sheffiel, England

Of course Lewis can win the championship as his results so far show.

However, it's all about the package, car and driver, over the whole season. Alonso hasn't suddenly become a bad driver because of the Canadian Grand Prix, just as Hamilton isn't the new F1 messiah after six races.

What we can say is that Lewis is doing better than anyone anticipated and has shaken up a sport that was in danger of becoming extremely dull.

You can't blame us Brits for being excited about Lewis, after all what other sporting heroes do we have? The national football and rugby teams are mediocre; we have Andy Murray in tennis who's proving to be a little fragile and we've got few genuine medal hopes in Beijing (with the exception of the cycling and rowing squads).

You spaniards have Nadal; you've still got Alonso and your national football team is more attractive to watch than ours (but mysteriously less successful).

Please let us have a little sporting pride back with Lewis.

Chris D, Witham,

Why not? Hamilton drove flawlessly on Sunday to win the Canadian Grand Prix and has performed magnificently to finish on the podium in his other races.

It's not just his ability to deliver under pressure with the weight of the nation on his young shoulders, but it is also his mental fortitude that has seen his metoric rise in the sport.

He has been dubbed as being "the Tiger Woods of Formula One", and if he continues in the same vein as he has done in the first six races of his professional career, then we could well see the first British World F1 Champion since Damon Hill in 1995.

Charles Perrin, London, UK

Sir,

If Ron Dennis is not mad (and he surely isn't), Lewis will win the driver's championship this year.
If Dennis were to choose Alonso instead, he will surely lose Lewis, as he will go to another team next year.

ROSS HENRY, LONDON,

I think the english press is treating Alonso with very little respect. It is obvious that if he hadn't had the 10 second penalty the other day, Alonso would have won. I don't understand why everyone is so happy in england with Hamilton. Alonso is going to win, once again, Hamilton needs a lot of experience that Alonso already has.

Patricia, Madrid, Spain

He need learn from Fernando.

John, London,

hi! I´m a spanish, and Ithink that Hmilton will not win the champion driver´s, because Fernando Alonso is the best in this moment.

Is hamilton ready for win the championship ?
of course, but when he has more expirience that pilot.

david lamas blanco, orense -Galicia, Spain

You can say what you want, but nowadays Alonso is the best driver in F1. And it is important to say that he did not started with such a good car like McLaren Mercedes is, he started with a Minardi . And remember that when he won his first race he was driving a Renault, and there were better cars that year, such as Ferrari, Mercedes or BMW. I completely trust in Fernando, he will show what he can do

Sergio Edesa, Valladolid, Spain

Well he has a very fast car , and he's currently winning ... so yes he has what it takes and yes he can win the drivers title ... and yes these type of articles are becoming very tedious ... Can the Times be a little more original ?

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

Whoaaaa!!! It seems that Lewis Hamilton has got you Spanish "Alonso" fans rattled a bit... Slow down, guys and give Hamilton his dues... He might not yet have the better of Alonso on titles, but he is getting there really fast... And add the fact that he is motivated and was no doubt pissed off about the team orders in Monaco, I was not surprised he won in Canada. He is hungry, talented and an extremely marketable assett.

Lawrence Johnson, Cape Town, South Africa

Raikkonen will bounce back..!

Tuukka, London, UK

Alonso isn't only the best driver now. He's the best mechanic too. It's interesting to see that Renault, with Alonso, was the best Constructor, but not now. And McLaren wasn't one of the best constructor in 2006, but now, with Alonso, who is giving to his team the advices for making best the car, is a evident favorite. And Hamilton has this advantage and others. He has the second best car of McLaren and the advices of Fernando. Attention! I'm not saying that Hamilton is bad. I'm saying that Fernando is best.

Lucas, Barcelona, Spain

i am 100% sure and confident that the actually world champion will win this championship 2007 and many more to comes.

daniel, Madrid,

Alonso is the best. Alonso advances to other cars and Hamilton has not advanced. Hamilton is obsessed with Alonso. In the turns of Fridays Alonso he prepares the car because Hamilton does not know. In Spain nobody saw the F1 and now it sees everybody it, thanks to Alonso.

Alberto, Santiago de Compostela, Spain

yeah...and he will be the next king of great britain and of spain!! you're crazy..he wouldn't win the championschip... I wold like to see hamilton starting this year in Minardi like Fernando Alonso does when he started his career. Would he win the championschip...nOO!! jajajajajajaj

bad columnist, xopein, MEXICO DF

Lewis has a strong opportunitiy to show what's he capable for, but his main error could be to desestimate the experience and expertise of his team peer, Alonso, who is just 8 points behind. Incredible pilot nevertheless...

Carlos, Madrid, Spain

He is really good, no discussion .I am abit surprised the british press is already calling him "king" when there are so many races left.
AND IF HE DOES NOT WIN? What then?

mrc, Brussels, Belgium

Kimi will come and beat them all! He's a crazy Finn with no nerves at all. Ferrari is going to show it's strenght and power.

Olli Sahimaa, Lahti, Finland

Magic Alonso is the best driver nowadays; but yesterday only was a little problem for Alonso.
However Hamilton is a great driver too.
I think that McLaren this season will win two titles, drivers and constructors.
Vamos Alonso, Go Hamilton.
Very lucky for Kubica. We want to see driving soon.

Adiós.

Juhanjho, Barcelona, spain

You can say what you want, but nowadays Alonso is the best driver in F1. And it is important to say that he did not started with such a good car like McLaren Mercedes is, he started with a Minardi . And remember that when he won his first race he was driving a Renault, and there were better cars that year, such as Ferrari, Mercedes or BMW. I completely trust in Fernando, he will show what he can do

Sergio Edesa, Valladolid, Spain

I think that It is only 6th races. But Alfonso is actually champion. Maybe this question is early. Hamilton won ONE race. Many drivers won two or four races but they didn´t win the Championship. Please, english journalists must be patiente because Hamilton has a lot of "pressure"

Angel, sevilla, spain

alonso isn´t dead....is the best...is the champion...

Arthur, London,

I think you can't trust yourself. Alonso its still alive my friend. I remenber you he is two times world champion and he's the best driver now...
I think Hamilton must learn many more to win the championship...

ALONSO CHAMPIONNNN !!!!!

turmana, jere de la frontera, cai

No way, perhaps the next one. He is still too noobie

Duke, Oxford, Uk

At this stage of the Championship, its is as much the work of the constructors that is being tested as the drivers`s themselves..This must be a prime consideration for the Mclaren team right now...Of course the meteoric rise of Lewis Hamilton is a great boost for the British end of the sport, but it is better to exercise some caution to protect the interests of the team, than to make emotive decisions that will get up the backs of the FIA...We shall see in the next few races if the world Champion can pick up speed, and prove the doubters wrong, or if the young pretender can take the crown from him...It makes for quite an exciting show...

Goo Faster.., Cambridge, United Kingdom

I think that Lewis has a goiod chance of winning the Championships, providing McLaren maintain their dominance over Ferriari, Massa is the nearest threat to him

Noel Eaton, Canterbury, Kent

i am 100% sure and confident that he will win this championship 2007 and many more to comes.
aires, oxford, uk.

aires, oxford, uk

i am 100% sure and confident that he will win this championship 2007 and many more to comes.

aires, oxford, uk

Lewis is a good driver. Would he win this championship?
dont think so. Its not his time yet. The drivers must have orders of what to do or not to do out there or else it would be chaos in the track.

We should not be even talking about the competitiveness of the car. This is a wasteful and unhelpful talking point. I would like to know .... have any driver in the history of F1 won the champotionship where the team did not place 1st or 2nd in the constructors champationship.

Christopher, London,

wow it seems that all the Alonso supporters are very certain about a few point, pole is the 80% decider for the win. Alonso is a very technical driver who doesn't make mistakes, trying to keep up with Alonso. Hamilton is just a child who doesn't have the goods to keep up with the best driver in the world...

i guess no one saw the qualifying for the Canadian Grand Prix...

and to the gentleman wondering if hamilton could have done it in jensens car, what makes you think Alonso could have?

yes he is young but you know something he is also the best and despite having to watch his mouth the politics and the press he is letting his driving do the talking. and the apologists will have nowhere to go.

Tarquin, birmingham,

Yes, you all say the same. Alonso won twice cause Hamilton was not there. That is called natural intelligence.

Joe, Valencia, Spain

I have just seen the race again. There is no way Hamilton could have wan. When he went for the pit stop Alonso was 12 seconds ahead and he was not likely to waste that advantage. Besides Hamilton was about to wreck the car and I do not think Mclaren would have been very happy with that, as they were not happy when Hamilton talked about team orders at the official press conference. Hamilton is a real good driver and will probably win more than one championship, but before doing so, he needs to calm down. Also Champions are made on the track not on the papers and the British Press are making an ill favor to this boy who would probably be Alonso's nightmare, but not just yet

Maria, Oxford, Eng

Alonso campeon!!!

pablo, sevilla, spain

He's certainly got what it takes.

His problem at the moment is being too good, he wasn't supposed to be competing with Alonso this year.

That's not to say Alonso is or isn't a better driver but at the moment the team is favouring Alonso, one cannot expect Hamilton to out qualify the world champion with a heavier fuel load.

So no, he probably cannot win while he is No 2 in the team, because he will always start second and if he looks like being a danger they can always pitstop him to suit..

As far as the investigation goes it is hard to see how McClaren can be criticised. Ron's job is the team after all.

Clark, Genf, Schweiz

alonso win in monaco with all the words, He was better and faster that hamilton all the race. team ordes?!? JA.
Hamilton it's a child and he want cry to win...pooorrrrr

james, alberta,

If I were Ron Dennis I would have also told Hamilton to ease off. Hamilton himself said he had touched the protections of the circuit many times and, furthermore, he lost the line countless times trying to catch Alonso. There were two options for Hamilton, given the perfect performance of Alonso: either finish second or become part of the walls. I think that this says everything on if hamilton can gain the championship

edgar, manchester,

If I were Ron Dennis I would have also told Hamilton to ease off. Hamilton himself said he had touched the protections of the circuit many times and, furthermore, he lost the line countless times trying to catch Alonso. There were two options for Hamilton, given the perfect performance of Alonso: either finish second or become part of the walls.I think that this says everything on if hamilton can gain the championship.

edgar, manchester,

I have been following F1 since 1950.yes,it makes me feel old. I think Hamilton is very good his results speak for themselves.However I am of the opnion that Alonso is presently the best F1 driver in the world, he beat Schumacher when he was just about still at his best and I believe him to be a cross between Fangio and Prost.
Hamilton will get his chance - I wonder if he would have done as well as he has if he had been in some of the cars that Button has driven,

W.J.Morvan., Jersey, C.I., U.K.

I think it does, but it wont be enought. So do Alonso and Massa. They are tough rivals and they won't let him take the championship that easily. About the race last sunday, it was clear to me that Hamilton was driving on the limit, and had no opportunity to overtake Alonso.

alejandro, madrid, spain

Forcing Hamilton to slow down and allow Alonso to win??? We're crazy? Alonso was a rocket adn Hamilton could NOT with him. Hamilton is good, but Alonso is the double champion of the world.
Hamilton was very near to crashed. Do you prefer Hamilton in the wall?

Ginés, Murcia, Spain

McLaren made the only sensible decision in Monaco. There were no team orders. Alonso qualified on pole and was in first place after the first pitstop.

It might have been different if Hamilton qualified on pole or if there had been a safetycar period in the race, but as things worked out Alonso beat Hamilton fair and square.

Hamilton might have been able to pull up to Alonso, but what's the point?. He would not have been able to pass unless Alonso made an error, and he's not likely to do that - even under pressure.

I completely fail to see the benefit from the teams perspective to risk a collition with no potential benefit?. The only sensible thing to do was to ask both drivers to drive safely, avoiding any risks and preserving the cars for the race in Canada.

It's not McLarens responsibility to create artificial excitement at the risk of a 1-2 finish just to please Hamilton's fans or the Brittish press!. That's what the other teams are there for. :)

Soren Rasmussen, Sonderborg, Denmark

So Mr Gorman, what you are suggesting is that Lewis was FORCED to slow down and Alonso was ALLOWED to win, and it is just that the FIA decided not to penalise them for it? Am I not right in thinking that it is EXACTLY these two allegations that the FIA have just cleared McLaren of?!

Secondly, what compels you (apart from your manipulative journalistic instinct) to imply that team orders are and will be taking place to ALLOW alonso to go for the title and lewis will have to play only second fiddle?! Are you not overriding the very thing that the FIA have cleared McLaren of through investigation - or are you implying that the FIA are wrong or have not spoken the truth and misled us? Is it that you are saying your opinion is of a higher order of truth than the official governing body of several motorsports that investigated this matter through technical evidence?

Or Mr Gorman, is it simply that you are sulking that Lewis didn't win the one race everyone knew as his best chance?

amc, Scotlan,

Lewis forced the engine to get more r.p.m. so he could go faster than Alonso. McLaren gave the order to reduce r.p.m. because they had to care the engine for the USA race, and it was imposible Hamilton overtook Alonso, not in Monaco. Hamilton ignored the order and Alonso had to ser more r.pm. in his car.
Results same positions and engine punished.

jjj, madrid, spain

Refering to the McLaren decision forcing Hamilton -and Alonso- to slow down is more related to common sense. Nobody saw how many times Hamilton was really close to crash the car? He said he has a very solid car because he had "touch" the wall three times, no metion about the risks for mechanical parts, transmision, etc. Nobody think like a team would do? Is the constructor championship nothing? Has it sense to force the situation till the end of the race? The answers are so obius that the only thing difficult to understand is the question itself. No doubt Ron Denis is a gentleman.

Juan, Sevilla,

Well I´m spanish (Valencia), althoug my fauvorite pilot is Raikkonen. I think Hamilton is a spectacular driver(English prodigy), but we can´t forbide that Lewis has a great car. He can win the Formula One Title, but I think Fernando is better at the moment (at the moment ;D). Lewis will have "in the pressure", his main problem the next year, when he have to win because it´ll be his second year.

Thanks

Edgar, Valencia, España

To be a word champion takes a great dose of luck, reason, experience and self control.
Hamilton so far has just luck. the new world champion...pleeeease.....

Ana, Madrid, Spain