"Last year, we wanted to be as fair and neutral as possible, But now we will have to react to the improved competition from Ferrari with our strategies. The consequence could be that one of the drivers after the race is maybe not happy and feels disadvantaged. But if it means the race victory or not, we will have to live with it." - Toto Wolff after qualifying Nico is a #2 driver
Certainly sounds like it. If that's the case then no wonder he's moaning... but you'd think he'd come out and want to tell the world about it.
Good point there. I remember Rosberg was asked a question before the race about the set of new softs they had saved and he promptly said.. No... we wouldn't be using those, they are no good for the race. And I asked the question in a post why Rosberg say that? Would the team save a set of soft by not running them in Q1 and putting the team at a disadvantage unless they planned to use them in the race especially since they were about 2 seconds faster than the harder tyre? Also when the team was going to the harder tyre for the second stint Hamilton did say the softs were fine and they went with the softs for the 2nd stint, leaving the harder tyre for the run home. If Ferrari had gone for the harder tyre in the middle stint Mercedes would have had a much bigger margin at the end. I think Hamilton's decision to measure his pace and save the tyres was the most sensible thing to do because there was no telling what Ferrari had in the bag and that basically covered everything they would have done. Another thing, by slowing things meant that if Rosberg was suffering then Vettel had to be suffering likewise. He had to pick up his pace to keep Kimi behind yet not being able to pass Rosberg and that must have taken a toll on his tyres too and there was not way Kimi could have caught the mercedes pair for the win so I think Hamilton's reading of race strategy was ahead of the team in some ways and this is sometime I have noticed from him in the last two seasons. Remember when he used to go all balls out in races and eat up his tyres people used to criticise him saying he doesnt know how to pace himself and save tyres and that he was going to be the hardest hit by the new tyres? Now he seems to be one of the best on both tyres and fuel. The two last laps on the 2nd soft tyres were absolutely crazy and it showed he could have gone another four laps on them.
None of them had the speed of their teammate to put themselves in the position where they should be considered a no.1. If Nico had got pole in the first 3 races and not Hamilton, it would be a different story. So Nico is now a no.2. Good news for Hamilton, if Nico plays balls. Nico clearly doesn't consider himself the supporting driver just yet.
All I'm saying is that it's a long season. The signs are not looking good for the Nico camp at the moment but things can swing so fast in F1.
I think Merc put the softs on because that's what Ferrari did, match the threat and stay ahead. I don't think we can trust any sort of strategy call made over the radio, especially an early call about the tyre choice.
I am not so sure... because even if Ferrari had gone for hards in the middle that would have killed them for sure. Hamilton was so quick on the softs that any attempt to do a long stint on the hards for Ferrari would have given Mercedes the chance to open up a much larger lead and when Ferrari goes back to softs for the last stint it would be way to late to challenge. I don't think it was all down to mirroring Ferrari, in fact if they had gone to hards Mercedes would have been smiling. And yes, I know they can call a dummy over the radio to put off the challenging teams so maybe you are right.
It's to do with the buffeting the crash helmet gets from the air, one of them prefers more than the other - but I don't recall which.
I think it's Rosberg that prefers the ones with the little ridges. That was mentioned sometime recently during one of the qualifying sessions.
Rosberg's behaviour is getting more and more bizarre. Did anyone see the inside f1 feature on the bbc and their attempts to interview him? Aside from the absolute cringe factor of him trying to make a borderline rude joke about the presenter learning to present (which was brilliantly saved by him suggesting that Alan McNish could perhaps teach him Rosberg on how to be a racing driver!), we had him try and make another joke from that, basically refuse to talk about Hamilton (probably fairly), then pretty much walk out of the interview after answering 2 questions because he "wanted to go to the barbeque.....goodbye"
Hamilton was taking the piss and Rosberg should shut up in public. A couple of egotistical nancy boys for my money, neither has the class to win or lose gracefully. And , boy do I loath those gold chains.
Yup, i think it was an online only thing from practice http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/32352938
Rosberg showed a bit more of the fight he brought to the table last year which was interesting to see - although again he must come away gutted having been beaten at the end. There is no doubt Hamilton and Rosberg are not getting on at all again and Hamilton is doing his best to stay above it all and Rosberg is goading him to try and find a chink in his armour - but this is coming across as quite desperate. There are times when I think Rosberg is alright and Hamilton is a bit of a stereotype hip-hop gangsta wannabe who is quite arrogant. But then I just think that's just what Lewis is into. I shouldn't knock that - and he's an honest, aggressive, entertaining racer and that is what I like. I expect Rosberg to get more erratic in the coming races if Hamilton keeps beating him which wont be pretty - but definitely entertaining!
Just watched it. Dam right rude from Rosberg and the presenter returned the comment very nicely. Very strange interview and he just seems a little wild atm.
I actually thought Rosberg drove very well today, aggressive and was trying to make things happen rather than sit back and wait for them to. Needs to do that every race against every driver. He's not on Hamiltons level, but there will be times he can challenge him and needs to not be shy about forcing his way through if need be or slapping the door shut when challenged by him.
