I've made the punt on Rosberg, though it's hardly much of a punt, yet surprisingly seems a major outsider.
I think they will make a step forward and its less of a power circuit. Tyre deg will be a factor and I view the RB as having the greatest downforce so figure they may be able to 2 stop.
RBR's lack of straightline speed has to be looked at in comparison to other Renault powered teams, who are generally are up there with all the others. RBR have always had low top speed, so why is it a surprise that it's the same again this year? But it's also hardly like everyone has been blasting past them on the straights anyway.
Lauda keeping the faith with me http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/113716 Nico Rosberg has what it takes to bounce back against Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate Lewis Hamilton despite being beaten in the last three grands prix, reckons Niki Lauda. The German leads the F1 world championship standings after the first four flyaway races, but has lost out to Hamilton in every race since Malaysia. That run of form has prompted suggestions that Hamilton has a decisive psychological advantage in their title fight. But Lauda, who is a non-executive director at Mercedes, reckons that there is little to choose between the pair, and that defeat will actually inspire Rosberg to come back stronger. When asked by AUTOSPORT if he believes Rosberg could recover, Lauda said: "Yes he will. And I think he will because racing drivers have this [mentality]. "If they are blown off, like he was [in China], he will get himself new strategies worked out to not let these things happen again." While retaining faith in Rosberg, Lauda has admitted he has been hugely impressed by the job that Hamilton has done this year. "I have to say that the way Lewis is driving, from the first race until now, for me is outstanding," Lauda said. "The guy makes no mistakes. "He is absolutely on top of everything. "He understands the car, which is more complicated than in the past. "He understands the tyres, and drives at the absolute perfect way on the edge. "He does not do any mistakes, and I have to say he is on a high like I have never seen before. Outstanding!"
please log in to view this image If this happened, things would be so much different. Senna vs. Schumacher would have been one of the greatest rivalries of the century. RIP Senna/RIP Roland. Wake up Michael.
Schumacher vs Senna would have made Senna v Prost look like childs play. Though Schumacher would of came out on top as he was the better all round driver.
There's no telling how the two would have matched up, but Senna could have come back and won in '94 and the whole course of F1 history could have been very different. It's a shame that we never got to see how that would play out.
Got a feeling one of the Red Bulls will split the Mercs on the podium next weekend. All those high speed corners are going to suit that Red Bull, and if a Merc gets into traffic its going to shred its rear tyres.
Pastor Maldonado admits the memory of his 2012 victory in Spain fuels his belief that he can help turn Lotus' poor start to the season around with a top-five finish in Barcelona. Maldonado has not finished higher than 14th so far and had notable had incidents with Esteban Gutierrez and the pit wall in the opening flyaway races. But Lotus showed another improvement in China and Maldonado is convinced the team will continue to build on that at the Circuit de Catalunya. "I'm expecting to be more competitive," he said. "It will be very important to start scoring some points, but if everything goes well and we get some luck too then a top five is possible. "It is going to be difficult, there are the two Mercedes and two Red Bulls and then others who have shown good pace in recent races like Force India, but if we get 100% from the car we can fight all of the other teams and come away with something good to build on … When we get there [to the front] it will be even sweeter." Maldonado was going through similar struggles at the start of the 2012 season with Williams before his surprising win at Barcelona, and he is using that experience to remind himself that fortunes can change quickly in F1. "[The win] was a great day in my career, a strong race and victory over Fernando Alonso in his home event. People forget that we were outside the top ten on Friday and then everything came together. We qualified second, which became pole after Lewis Hamilton was disqualified, and I knew there was a chance to win the race. I just felt so calm and ready to win. "That weekend, after being 17th in first practice, shows why you must never give up in Formula 1. It also gave me more confidence because my first year in F1 had been difficult, but as soon as the car was competitive I was up there, fighting with the top drivers. My mentality changed and this now drives me forward when times are tough." Source: ESPN
Senna would have pissed all over Schumacher, in fact Schumacher would have been a complete non event. A bit like Manchester United have been proved to be now bully boy Ferguson has gone.
It's turning into another Hamilton esque thread, you're not allowed to say anything bad against Hamilton or Senna or the Hamelots will hate you forever
