Pretty sure Hamilton would be happy to see Rosberg slip to third if it would demoralize him further. Makes the job all the easier next year.
I wouldnt mind seeing him balls it out with Hamilton to be honest. I want to see them go at it right through to the end of the race. If it will happen I dont know. But Rosberg has nothing to lose and a big showing against the Champion will give him a real boost for next year. A bit of self confidence is what he needs right now and the belief that he can do better against his team mate. I say...go for it and see what happens.
Well, Rosberg did say he wouldn't mind seeing Vettel's Ferrari getting between the two Mercedes... I guess Vettel misunderstood the finishing order.lol
IMO Rosberg has already let it go to his head, he won't be thinking these last two races, and I don't doubt a few DNF's.
When Hamilton is upset about something he takes his eye of the ball and doesn't perform well. We have seen it countless times. If Rosberg truly wants to beat him then he has to get nasty. It worked for him in Monaco and took Lewis a few races to get his happiness back.
See. Hamilton has just won his third title and has nothing to gain but he got so paranoid this weekend over nothing. That's how fragile he is. Rosberg driving in anger + getting under his team mates skin has always resulted in victory for him.
I dunno... I think he had a point on tyres. Seemed odd that Rosbergs garage played a safe move and Hamilton's followed suit. They could have allowed Hamilton to play it out and see how it turned out. Given the safety car, he could have had an opportunity to jump to softs and boss it. Two safe strategies when a win was nailed on either way seemed a bit dull.
Yep. I see where you're coming from, Bando but I'm inclined to agree with Bhaji on this one. Given the gap back to 3rd place was significant, Hamilton could afford to 'suck it and see'. Personally, I believe Mercedes absolute, categoric, over-riding call for Hamilton to pit was over-insurance on achieving a one-two. It effectively eliminated a potentially worse bit of PR: that they be seen to have called Rosberg in to allow Hamilton to win… Knowing the gap to the closest rival and with nothing much at stake from a team perspective, bringing both cars in for fresh tyres was the safest bet for a one-two. Having pitted Rosberg, Mercedes became quite disturbed by the possibility that Hamilton – suddenly and unexpectedly finding himself ahead – wanted to risk it to the end in the belief that he a chance (at least) to win outright.
Shame Vettel had such a shocker yesterday. Would have loved to have seen him in the mix and challenging Rosberg for 2nd until the end of the season. All things being equal that's gone out the window now.
I think we need to get over this 'Hamilton asks a question there he is rattled' rubbish. As a racing driver he wants to win. He felt he could stay out on the tyres he was on, so quite rightly asked the team, very calmly, whether there was a need to change them and the reasons why. Personally I think Mercedes did it to ensure Rosberg didn't lose the win unfairly, otherwise the world (and this forum) would be up in arms about Mercedes sabotaging Rosberg's race to allow 'Golden Boy' to win. Rosberg has been on Hamilton's pace most of the year, so to be beaten is not unexpected. More telling, perhaps, is that now the pressure of the WDC is off, Rosberg had a flawless race. If this were the WDC decider (just like Austin) would he have been the one to crack?
Might they not have been trying to aid Nico to 2nd place in the WDC? Still, Vettel did that effectively himself yesterday.
Definitely. Merc want a 1-2 in the WDC so will do what they can now to help Rosberg get it. If that had already been sorted then they may have let Hamilton stay out.
But what happened to not being allowed to split strategies - something (I think?) most thought was preventing any real racing?
It does seem a daft team ruling if it is true, I do recall them saying that as well. not good for the sport. It is the split strategies that can give good racing.
