Hamilton vs Rosberg Version 2015

Kamikaze Max?

 

More if the same, but suggesting it's is being aimed at Lewis and Nico is prepared to walk?

 

Interesting, but Lewis has brought them the success and is a more marketable person than Rosberg. I know it's been said about a German winning in a Mercedes is good promo in Germany, but most German's don't recognise him as German anyway, born to Finnish dad, grew up in Monaco!

I imagine the Merc board would pick Hamilton over Rosberg if one of them had to be given the chop.

 

It would make sense, but it depends how untenable the situation gets I suppose. They may feel that Nico could have won the title with the car being so dominant - they could adopt a Frank Williams approach.

 

Yes, if Rosberg had been a no.1 with a definite no. 2 teammate then he would have picked up Hamilton's wins and got the title for himself. Question for Mercedes, is when the car is not so dominant, as may happen in the future, which one would they then prefer to have in the car?

 

Pound for pound you would choose Lewis every time, but at what cost. I suppose every team will have a pragmatic process where the ROI is calculated - no driver is indispensable.

 

If they just want the Driver's championship, then they'd surely keep Hamilton. But if they wanted the Constructor's too, they'll probably have Rosberg and then someone who's consistent but not as quick. Let's be honest, given pretty much any other team mate for the last few years (barring Alonso, Vettel and maybe Button) Rosberg would have been dominant and won the titles easily, he's capable of it and is much more of a team player (Malaysia '13 anyone?) but would they sacrifice what Hamilton gives them? I doubt it.

 

Quite.

The Frank Williams analogy shows that very starkly. He firmly believed the drivers were privileged to drive his cars, not the other way around.

Unfortunately, modern day sportsmen (applies to almost all sports now) mentality suggest that most think that it's their employers who should be thankful that they have 'chosen' to play/drive/represent their team.

 

After some more thought, I still don't believe it. Why would Merc have decided now that Hamilton is too much effort. He's no worse now than last year or before they first signed him.

They obviously value his image hence the bumper contract deal earlier this year. A tier 3 driver would win the championship quite comfortably in their car, so they're not paying him so highly for his driving, they could have had any one of 5/6 other drivers with the same team result (WDC and WCC) for less than a third of the cost if they were already thinking he was high maintenance.

 

I think he (M V) is a one hit wonder. The way EJ fawns all over him is embarrassing imho.

I may be proved wrong though.

 

Merc must be in cloud cuckoo land if they expect to have a dominant car and two happy drivers getting along as they duke it out between themselves for the title.

Maybe while they're looking for this elusive pairing they can also find Atlantis, Shergar and Lord Lucan.

Maybe when they have that one licked, they can figure how to get Maureen and Wenger to be best buddies.

 

Nico is the problem, he simply wasn't expected to pose a threat.

 

He really didn't this season though. Once Hamilton had the title sewn up he pretty much took his foot off the gas.

 

If Merc are looking for someone to offer less of a threat, what are their options? An inexperienced and 2nd tier rookie or someone like Maldonado - I just don't see it either way.

 

The rest of the grid are shaking their heads at Merc, wishing two morngy drivers were their biggest problem.

 

If you take his 2 retirements out it would have been much closer (Sochi and Monza) that's a 50 point swing (43 points for position and 7 point gain for Lewis) and the Austin incident would have been another 14 point swing - they would also have shared the wins at 8-8. I personally dont believe Lewis has taken a more relaxed approach, he's desperately chasing the pole position figures, wins in a season and that slow to come 44th win. It's obviously an opinion and not fact.

 

He got on really well with Kovalainen!

 

He got on well with Button, which is surprising when you consider how close they were in the championships. I think the reason for that is in the actual races they rarely raced each other that much as either one or the other would have a stormer whilst the other was miles behind. And then there was Canada, which is why it was good they never raced closely!

 

Did he really, though? I know they never had a public falling out, but in part that was probably the media managed "Brit super team" line being pushed by McLaren.

I recall Jenson making the odd comment sounding so what bemused by Hamilton, the data release at Spa being the time that sticks in my mind. He's also intimated this year that he finds Alonso easier to get on with.

Like you say indirect competition, or not really hunting for championships, doesn't strain relationships in the same way.

 

I just don't think Lewis ever got into a position to dictate with Jenson. I still think JB was the reason he left McLaren.