Lewis is a good driver,such a shame his mouth runs away from his brain sometimes,he has definately got a world championship in him,but to put him in the class of the multiple world champions is far fetched.Arrogance is something all the British drivers suffer from,Jenson is a fine example.

Hayden, Benoni, South Africa

His fans + journalists who really should know better - make me laugh. You can feel the pain of desperation for their boy to become WDC to justify all the hype around him and his actions.

This is no kid fighting against the world or FIA as every human being in the UK wish all to believe.

Roland, London, UK

Look no further than Stirling Moss. He had heart,style and was bigger than life. A racer-even when he had no chance of winning. Storming from the back of the grid to the front. Lewis is just like Stirling-a racer. Not afraid to mix it up. Or acknowledge how good he is. Get used to it.

Bruce Talamon, Los Angeles, USA

"He can overstep the mark but his feet are firmly on the ground"? That's how you call his behaviour? Talented? Yes. Very well media groomed. But a WDC he's not. Will he be? Maybe. He's even more arrogant then MSch ever was. And Kimi? WDC, but no arrogance at all. Neither was Mika! Lewis mania

Gilraen Ivorwen, Netherlands,

Jen, Sydney, Australia, Alonso was not arrogant before wining. Can you remember him with such arrogant sentences as pretending to be the best driver? Nowadays, there are two world champions on the track, but Hamilton -winner of nothing and not a good team mate- claims he is the best!!! Unbelievable!

Igor, Pamplona,

He hits cars in front at 5 mph,goes through red lights,cuts corners,belongs to a corrupt team.
He hasn't won anything and never will.
Why is there all this hype? You have to earn respect and that is done by graft,talent and hard work none of which this young lad has,nor ever will have."Ham" it is.

james allen, manchester, england

LH is arrogant enough. Please don't encourage him!

FJOL, Bournemouth, UK

He is good,but not that good,and indeed has yet to prove it,and you only have to look at Monza which was won by a great talent ,who shows wonderful humility,a faultless drive,in a car half of what the Mclaren is,self belief is one thing,but it is for others to judge.

steve, dorchester, england

People who think LH is arrogant I suppose are the kind who believe one as to be sorry for excelling at something.
I don't think you've really met arrogant conceited pple judging by this....

Riek , Mansfield, UK

Drive, ambition and the maturity to stay positive and focussed in the face of criticism... Lewis has the makings of a true champion.

Charlotte, London,

"And in any case, a healthy dose of arrogance or machismo has always been a mark of great champions in this sport. "

Except, in Britain of course, if your name is Michael Schumaker, the greatest driver of the modern era.

Ann, London,

Who else here is old enough to remember Cassius Clay as a callow youth?

Frankly, LH telling the Ferrari barrister where to shove it was utterly delightful and upped his stock considerably in my book!

Castor, Stroud, UK

These guys are at the very edge of the driving experience. To be the best, you have to believe in yourself, therefore, a level of arrogance has to be a part of the recipe. Great drivers like Senna for example were far more arrogant with a lot less manners than Lewis. Good luck to him on Sunday!

Steve, Cheltenham, UK

Whats going on? Hamilton parading like a world champion, complete with entourage! Nigel (not as good looking) Mansell was a much more exiting driver to watch, yet did anyone call for his name up in lights! Is this the Georgy Best factor? The ad man's dream? Well, Valentino Rossi is the real thing!

Perry Ford, Wirral, UK

F1 needs more people like this!!! All F1 drivers are tightass, boring, types, who never bring excitement into the game and that's what we as viewers want, excitement! When was the last time we saw a fight in the depo? Or some emotions, F1 drivers are treated as and expected to behave like robots!

Peter, Prague,

Massa is proof you dont have to be arrogant to fight for the WDC and Kimi is proof you don't have to be arrogant to win it. This arrogance is a part of success is just an excuse, Federer, Wilkinson some of the greats who aren't arrogant.

Hamilton may be a great driver but is a very poor sportsman

Daniel, London, England

Ed the test of arrogance cannot be determined from tame frivilious questioning by sports journalist at a media jolly but under cross examination by a QC in a courtroom. There’s your answer he does suffer badly from unjustified arrogance.

peter, warwick, uk

good article, but losing last year "a painful setback that the mclaren mercedes driver could put down to inexperience"? I'd put it down to bad decisions by his team in the penultimate race. he drove well enough during the season to win with a race to spare.

jem, london, uk

hero? is it just me that finds comments like this offensive. a brilliant young driver yet to fulfil his talent maybe but he will never be a hero for being an F1 driver!
jeremy - against all odds & no lottery funding?? he has been funded by mclaren for years, gets paid millions & has the best car!

Von, London,

"... a healthy dose of arrogance or machismo has always been a mark of great champions in this sport"

Arrogance I agree but machismo??????

Anyhow are you saying that Lewis is a "great champion" ?

I dont think so, he won nothing. First win, then talk.

Kormak, Dubai,

Thanks, Edward, for a great article. It's a robust reply to those who seem to enjoy denigrating Lewis Hamilton. His skill, determination, confidence, charisma and the evident importance to him of his family mark him out as an exceptional young man. I wish him all success for the rest of the season.

David Bevir, Andover, UK

Love Lewis!

Few top drivers arent a bit 'mouthy' or arrogant. Or very few top anything. These dudes put their lives on the line, literally. Surely arrogance is forgiveable.

But I admire someone with his self confidence who has earned it. And Lewis has. Wasn't alonso arrogant before he won?

Jen, Sydney, Australia

He makes it hard for even a Ferrari fan like me to root against. His talent is surely there -- and now he has to be a nice guy too?

Gino, Denver, USA

The travails of Lewis Hamilton reminds me much of the trials of Brian Charles Lara. They are the best at what they do, but apart from competing against the others on the field of play they have to guard against the "decisions" of the umpires/stewards in order to win.

LH is the best.

Robert, Santa Cruz, Trinidad and Tobago

We have made heroes of our olympic gold,broze and silver medalists,whats wrong with supporting a potential world champ who has self belief?
Give the guy some support,he does not rely on lottery cash,just ambition against all the odds and the his own sport!

jeremy, huddersfield, england

Took the words right out of my mouth Steve!!!

Hero!!!!

Tom, London, UK

Some people make you proud to be British.

Steven , Solihull, UK