Mercedes will restrict the race strategies that can be adopted by drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in their fight for the 2014 title. Until now, the dominant team has given its driver duo almost free rein to battle for the championship, despite constant speculation that Mercedes and its parent Daimler might prefer to see German Rosberg ultimately triumph. Autosprint now reports that one of the ways Mercedes is moving to demonstrate absolute equality between the pair is to limit them to very similar pit strategies. “The drivers must comply with the same number of pitstops,” said correspondent Alberto Antonini. That aside, the Hamilton and Rosberg camps will be free to wage their battles, even at the risk of some loss of ‘transparency’ as outlined by boss Toto Wolff recently. “As an individual, you cannot dominate alone in motor racing,” Wolff is quoted by Speed Week. “Our position is a testament to how well we work together. “But of course there are areas where you keep certain details to yourself to develop an advantage, and this is also accepted by the team. But it must not have a negative influence on the development of the team,” he insisted. (GMM)
I think that is crap! it totally isnt fair. Supposed you were fast enough to make up on your team mate you cant have a different strategy in order to take the lead? Since the season started twice Rosberg used a different strategy to Hamilton to try to rest the lead. Why all of a sudden they have decided to change that? Did they believe that Hamilton would have overtaken Rosberg had Rosberg been able to finish the race? That is the only reason I could think about as a reason why they changed the rules. The drivers must now comply to the same number of pit stops...that is crap. Are you saying if I drove well enough to save my tyres for an assault on my teammate why should I have to do the same number of pit stops as him? If my team mate could only conserve his tyres for 10 laps and I can do mine for 20 laps why should I do the same pit stops as him or do the same tyre strategy as him? I think who ever came up with that is ridiculous. Are Mercedes penalising Hamilton because of his speed or because he has been conserving his tyres and fuel much better than Rosberg? Maybe someone could explain that new decision from Mercedes. It sounds strange and stupid really.
I asked my inside man at Mercedes and apparently they read this forum, turns out they brought in this rule to annoy you dhel. They're a playful lots those Mercedes guys
Just let em fight it out... no need to impose restrictions on strategy. Just let the two sides of the garage battle it out. One of the pair will take the title and they'll walk the constructors, so I don't see a need to interfere.
Other restrictions include: A) Only being able to order the same lunch items in the team canteen. No sly Haribos for Hamilton! B) Bog breaks must be taken simultaneously with identical poop strategy. Restriction A should ensure a similar routine and stool consistency. C) identical rubber strategy will also include birth control. An equal combination of Durex and Trojan will be required during hanky panky and partners will be shared across both garages.
What I would like to know and what has been one of the mysteries of 2014 is. Do they have Identical fuel loads onboard?
I assume not, otherwise why would Hamilton actively use less? He might as well just use it down the straights to stop the car ending with more weight than it needs, it'll help the tyres at the end as well. They are often a few kph apart in the speed traps (with Nico usually the faster) so they still do some things differently. I assume most the stories we hear on the matter of Lewis Vs Nico are made up garbage that just fills the space until the media has something genuine to write about.
I see it like that too sgt... Let them race let them play out their strategies and may the best man win... I totally agree...that good racing.
Good question...I always wonder his it is Hamilton fuel saving seems to always be much better than Rosberg's in the same identical car. And even though Hamilton is said to be the more aggressive of the two. I wonder too.
Toto Wolff is ruining the chance for the viewers to see any potential fight on track between the drivers. I honestly don't know what value he brings to Mercedes, he should let them race freely. By telling them to do equal amount of stops in a race could cause more friction between the two which he won't be able to handle.
The thing is even if Hamilton has more fuel on board....he usually has better tyre management than Rosberg too...and he was said to be much harder on tyres...so there must be some other reason
I think that idea will annoy all true racing fans, not just me. Everybody wants to see great racing and that includes top race strategy. Mercedes claims they will let them race to the end but what is the use of letting them race when they have to mirror each other in race strategy. The idea of splitting race strategy is to give the following car a chance in the race right? It also help to create more interest in the racing too. Fans really don't want to see a funeral procession. The two guys haven't crashed or anything like that so far so what's the real reason for mirroring strategies all of a sudden?
El Bando..this is something Hamilton said recently so maybe he is using some special technique?: “The way technology is now (in F1) there is so much information, it is so hard to have anything concealed. Like the experience I had with Fernando (Alonso at McLaren in 2007). When I got to F1 I thought, “Jeez Fernando’s so quick and he is using all these different techniques”. But fortunately there was data. If there wasn’t data I wouldn’t have been able to beat him that year. “So there are times when Nico is ahead and I’m able to see those things. And there are times when I’m ahead and he’s able to see it. For example the fuel usage. After the last race they found out how I’m saving fuel and he’ll be aware of that now and maybe he’ll be a lot closer on fuel usage. “Every time that small bit of an advantage disappears, be it him or me, you have always got to find something new.”
Is there a problem trying to discuss relevant topics? If there is, I guess I should just log out now, thanks!
Not at all, but theres a multi-quote button to save the need for 7 odd posts in a row if you want to discuss various points
i don't get what you mean, i imagine the whole reason he's making them do the same number of stops is to force any overtake to happen on track, as opposed to just in the pits, which would be even more boring to watch, obviously Hamilton supporters couldn't care less as long as he ends up in front, which seems to be the compliant people have, i.e. not making it as easy as possible for him to win...as if it's not easy enough this year.
