Yes, but how long ago did it happen? You somehow are on a crusade for Hamilton, and I don't know why. I think that Hamilton does not have real competition in the races since 2014 or so. That might have started earlier. It would be much nicer for him, if there was more challenge versus other cars. Like Russel showed yesterday, any great driver will be P1 in that car. Means everybody knows Hamilton has another WDC, long time before the season ends. It's just dull.
I don't need to crusade for Hamilton because his performances speak for themselves. What you don't seem to understand is that he doesn't need anyone like me to crusade for him because he's done what he wanted. He's achieved what those in F1 thought would be impossible for any driver, so he doesn't need me. Being on here is like sparring in the gym - it's fun to debate everything that is thrown around. Unfortunately mostly what gets thrown around on here is sacks of ****.
No one who is a Hamilton fan is stupid. We know that folk like yourself are out there trying desperately to diminish what the man has done for whatever personal reasons. it seems to me that people like you have an itch in a place that you just can't seem to scratch, so your impulse is to diminish what he has done in order to soothe the itch.
I actually am having fun with people like you because you provide me with such entertainment, so in fact I should be thanking you because you guys make me laugh. You see, Lewis Hamilton more than any other driver who has ever existed is disliked by people for a myriad of reasons that have nothing to do with his on-track accomplishments, so they to are on this unrelenting mission to topple the man, and yes I know that many drivers are critiqued, discussed, and measured against others and so on, and so forth because that's what fans, writers, and commentators do. but the whole it's the car thing is truly hilarious because all drivers who have won championships whether just once or multiple times were using at the time the best car, with the best team, and some under favorable conditions that suited them personally - ahem Schumacher.
Lewis did not ask to come to Mercedes, he didn't pursue a talk with Wolff, they came to him. Not only that but they sent an F1 legend to persuade his decision to come to the team by telling him what they would they had to offer. People like yourself should worry less about the actual car because every championship winning driver has driven great cars. The question that you should be asking is why out of all the available drivers in 2012-13, they chose to send Niki Lauda to knock on Hamilton's door.
Why should Mercedes care if Bottas or Russel is in their second seat, as long as Bottas is doing his job, and they have won every championship since he's been there. Why don't people like yourself help yourselves in your mission by writing letters to the Formula One or the FIA to force Mercedes hand to change the second seat so that the driver that you so desperately want there, is there.