A Warning For Hamilton

By Sam Cooper
April 2 2007

Britain's last world champion Nigel Mansell warned fellow countryman Lewis Hamilton, to keep focused on the job in hand, and he could be more famous than Mansell himself.

"I've never met Lewis but if he asked, I'd be glad to give him advice," Mansell told the Sun. The only thing I would tell him publicly is try not to get caught up in the razzmatazz of F1 and get side-tracked from your objectives of getting podium finishes and winning races. His team and his family will keep him focused but there is a big transition he'll go through. It's a glamorous lifestyle for a young man. If Lewis stays on the straight and narrow, he can achieve what Tiger Woods has achieved as the first great black golfer. If he makes the grade, converting podiums into race wins and race wins into world championships, he can be right up there. He's already with one of the best teams in Formula One. If he stays at McLaren and the team stay as competitive as they are, I have no doubt he will win a world championship. You can't help but compare Tiger and Lewis. It's an injection of excitement for the sport. I think Lewis will win his first race this year and within two or three years he might even be challenging for the championship," he added.