Agreed. One of the (many) things that's really annoyed me about this is the amount of people saying there's no need for them this early in the season. Are people really that thick that they don't understand the points on offer at each race are equal? It's common sense. Same with the people saying Vettel needed the extra seven points to maximise Alonso being out of the race. 7 points is 7 points no matter where Alonso finishes.
I agree team orders are ok but team orders should move the faster driver in front not keep them behind.
Why? The lead driver has earned track position, and as they say, track position is king. If one driver has 2 stopped and his teammate has three stopped and is 10 seconds behind when a safety car comes out it would be a massive injustice to order the lead driver to move aside in a race he should've won. Getting them to hold station looks far less contrived and distasteful than choreographing a switch.
Telling them to hold station is no better. A faster car could have a chance of catching the next car ahead. Keeping them behind would leave them both exposed to catching cars behind.
For the record, if I'd been in Brawn's situation at the last race, I would've said they're free to race but advised Lewis not to fight it because he'd be unlikely to make the end of the race.
We don't know what rosbergs fuel was like but I agree that he should have been given the chance to chase the red bulls.
I tend to agree with this... though I can understand why Brawn told Rosberg to hold back given that they were trading places on the laps prior. But... you would think that the order would have been to Hamilton to let Rosberg go.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/106781 Calm down fella.. until you sort out your race pace/tyre management issues, you won't be winning anything.
Hmm, although Mercedes are doing much better than expected, they do need to up their development particularly in relation to race pace. I wonder if Paddy Lowe has anything planned in his potting shed?
Yea but, to be fair the Mercedes was not that far off the pace was it !!! I bet a pole and a third is much better result than many figured was possible when Hamilton decided to join the team.
Quite correct.. But Alonso "appeared" to be on cruise control for half of that race. Kimi was no doubt hampered by the damaged front wing. They have pace, they just need to keep those tyres switched on/kept in better shape longer, if they can do that, then they have two racers that can take advantage of what is a pretty quick car.
To be honest if someone said over winter that Hamilton would have two podiums by now I would have probably laughed. I was hoping for solid points and the odd podium this season so I'm happy with what Hamilton, Rosberg and Merc have done so far
Look at Alonso last year. Good consistency, luck and reliability throughout the year nearly won him the title. Not saying Hamilton can do the same but you never know. They have the qualifying pace and are not too far off from sorting out their race pace. Bahrain could suit them. They seem to perform better in hot temperatures and they have a good car on traction and brakes, not forgetting that their are 3 fairly long straights.
I'd imagine Hamilton is very pleased with the start he's had this year. He has certainly got more points than what he'd have with McLaren and has at least looked like challenging for victory at times.