The inability to build a decent car and Big Ron offing key personnel and burying them under the MTC driveway had nothing to do with it.
That's an educated gamble which no doubt played a part, but for every driver that gets an educated guess right, there are plenty that get it wrong. Lewis knew that he was unlikely to win a WDC with JB as a team mate, and JB got his feet well and truly under the table. That's what Nico and Lewis are battling for now, he knows 9/10 he will beat him, but he also knows the continued challenge is another Obstacle he has to overcome every race weekend. Like Vettle, Schuey etc. he needs that undisputed unchallenged status - that's not a criticism - he's arguably earned it.
The thing that stuck in my mind regarding the JB LH 'relationship', was 'the other guy' remark from Jenson.
They'd be mad to ditch Hamilton. In any sort of vaguely equal fight, Vettel will spank Rosberg every time.
According to BBC.... Mercedes are "torn" between what Lewis Hamilton does on the track and what he does off it, according to an unnamed team principal.
I assume it's Wolff, I've always got the impression Lowe likes Hamilton. Makes sense as well it's Wolff managing the fallout. Still weird to my mind though. They put up with him for two years when they didn't need him and gave him a huge contract, now Ferrari might be closing in and they might need a better driver than Rosberg. Other than getting Alonso or Button from McLaren, there aren't any proven options that fit the bill.
What if.... Lewis isn't as good as they were expecting against nico? I mean they've been constantly keeping nico 3 seconds behind at every race until the championship was sealed then nico blitzed him. Just a theory.
And a crap one at that. Mercedes bosses: yeah, that guy who has won us 2 WDC's in the 3 seasons he has been with us isn't much cop at all. His teammate always briefly comes on strong every so often, let's sack the other guy and keep him instead.
He hadn't won them with McMerc though, but that was kind of a joint decision for him to go. if Merc's issue is Hamilton's lifestyle away from the track (just read a Times article on the train about it), then they should just come out and say it. I can't see it being for anything motorsport related.
Lewis Hamilton will eventually drive for McLaren Honda in my opinion. But not for another two years (end of 2017) Hamilton has his 3 world titles now, is an odds on favourite for a 4th- I think if he gets that he will go back to his roots because he grew up as a kid wanting to be in a McLaren Honda. He isn't loyal to Merc- once he has his titles he has little left to give them and he won't curb his lifestyle to suit them. He should have a pretty tight battle with Vettel in the Ferrari next year and Rosberg will be in the mix because of the strength of the car. Come 2017 McLaren Honda will be closer to the front than the back so it will probably head that way IMO, especially if Alonso does end his career after the 3 years.