If he was that great, it wouldn't now be 10 seasons since he last won a WDC. His legend was made by beating Schuey in the twighlight of his career, driving a Renault that was the class of the field. I think he gets more credit then he deserves simply because he was the one who stopped Schuey from winning any more WDC's. To be honest, since then he has done well most seasons, but the 'legend' status has been diluted a lot by questionable tactics and attitudes that he has used in that time.
I think the below was very interesting indeed, probably the more exciting part of the weekend. But to be honest do you really think any driver cares if the chasing pack is closer to them or if the team mate finishes the race? Lol. Rosberg says he is interested in the show that's why he wants the chasing pack closer. That's crap... He need to be straight up like Lewis said the other day.. I want them closer to take points off my team mate. And then Vettel....you want your team mate finishing? But I am sure you don't want him anywhere near you. Then there is Horner who wants FIA to slow down mercedes...come on Horner leave that for another team to say. Why didn't you say that after the first two Red Bull championships? please log in to view this image © AP Photo/Andy Brownbill Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel managed to step on the podium at the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday and although the German duo would have liked better results, the two didn't see any reason to frown. In the post-race press conference the two engaged with each other as they faced the media, with some worthwhile moments. Excerpts. please log in to view this image © AP Photo/Andy Brownbill Q: Question to both Lewis (Hamilton) and Nico. We've seen dominance in qualifying, dominance in the race today. Is this it for the season? A two-horse race between you two for the title or can you envisage any of your rivals making in-roads into your supremacy? Lewis Hamilton: I didn't see the times or anything but I think the Ferraris have taken a huge step forward. It's clear they’ve made one of the biggest steps. So we definitely cannot back off because I'm sure they're going to be pushing. And I anticipate we might have a good fight with them at some stage this year... Nico? please log in to view this image © AP Photo/Andy Brownbill Nico Rosberg: I hope we can have a good fight. That would be awesome. I think the next couple of races we're going to be leading the way for sure, and we're going to try and keep it that way, but we know it would be good if they can come a bit closer, as long as they don't come too close... Sebastian Vettel: Be honest. Do you really hope so? Seriously? You finished 30 seconds ahead of us and you hope it's going to be closer? So you hope you slow down? Is that what you're saying? Nico Rosberg: I hope that you can give us a challenge! Because it's important for the sport and for the fans. And I do think about the show. Half of me – or a part of me – thinks about the show because I want to give people a great time at home watching on TV or at the track. If you do come a bit closer, that would be awesome for everybody. Sebastian Vettel: First suggestion, if you don't mind, I think your garage becomes public for (the next race in) Malaysia and everyone can have a look. No? I'm joking. Nico Rosberg: You can come if you want, we can invite you… Sebastian Vettel: OK, thank you for the invite, I'll come. Nico Rosberg: Friday Malaysia, OK. Sebastian Vettel: Engineers' room? Debrief, I'll be there. Q: So Sebastian, you, then, think it is a two horse race for the championship between these two guys Sebastian Vettel: Well, first of all, they (Mercedes) don't have a horse on their car, they have a star so it's a big difference, as I learned. Q: Sebastian, among the races to come, which one do you feel will be the one that is easier for you, for Ferrari to catch up to the Mercedes? I think Malaysia will be difficult but what about Bahrain or Shanghai? Sebastian Vettel: Easy, for us? I think if you look at the gap, nowhere is going to be easy. I think we have to focus on ourselves, make sure that what we learned this weekend we're able to take into the next races. The most important thing now is that if we finish – we did finish right behind Mercedes today. We need to confirm that in the next race, that's the priority number one, so we need to make sure that I was not just a one-off. We improve reliability. Kimi (Raikkonen) didn't finish, which is a shame. We could have scored a lot more points today. Nico Rosberg: ...that you find it a shame that your teammate didn't finish? please log in to view this image © Ferrari Sebastian Vettel: Yes. I don't know how much you (and Hamilton) like each other but Kimi and myself we get along, so I think it is a shame. Nico Rosberg: I though as a racing driver you might like it that you have a couple of points advantage over him now. I don't want to get you off the foot there, sorry. Oops. Look at him, look at him go... Sebastian Vettel: I can see your point. No, no. I can see that at the moment, where we are, we want to make sure we catch you guys and to do that we both need to score. Yes, I honestly think so and I honestly didn't want to see the second car not finishing today. Nico Rosberg: Because I'm ready for it now, you caught me a bit off guard before but now I'm ready for it!
I only watched the bbc highlights but have the fia graphics become more sparse? I mean I only saw a throttle/brake graphic once and it was for button and perez. I am sure the graphics used to contain electrical power info but that seams to be missing. I was hoping to see if McHonda were actually using any electrical power.
That was not a good race, no blame on Mercedes, it's not their fault that nobody caught them up over Winter. I hope for the sake of F1 that Renault get this engine issue sorted out soon. And a great debut for Nasr, after the week Sauber have had (entirely their fault though) i suppose even 1 point would have made them happy.
Ferrari had to get rid of Alonso, he was just a negative effect on the people building the car for him. If you don't have the belief and respect of these guys then you won't win anything. I never got on the hype behind Alonso the guy could do bad in qualifying and he would always make out to the media that he got 383% out of the car or the wind tunnel was to blame. Fact is designing a car around Alonso has a low ceiling in development and is always detrimental to the other driver and Luca helped drag Ferrari's name through the mud. It's of no real surprise that the first none bespoke Ferrari for Alonso since 2010 and now both Ferrari drivers are up there as the best of the rest just like they were in 2007-2008. They both show real speed on track and are looking happy. If Ferrari can keep up the performance and develop to catch Mercedes to even half the gap to Mercedes they'll make a believer out of me! The question some fans shouldn't be asking 'what was Alonso thinking leaving Ferrari?' or 'what would Alonso do in that car? ' really should be 'what were Ferrari thinking with just backing Alonso all those years?' And 'what would have Ferrari achieved if they just tried to design the fastest car like normal teams do?'
I quite like the way Vettel came across in that interview, I must admit. Rosberg trying to play everything in the most media-friendly manner possible is hardly endearing. Wasn't the Ferrari rear wheel cockups only on Kimi's car, and didn't that corner take a hit from the Toro Rossi in the first corner? Possibly related? Don't think you can blame the first corner incident on Raikonnen really, he's forced wide when Vettel gets a bit squirrely over the kerbs, gets hit from behind then is slowly moving right back onto the track when he's hit. You can't expect him to stay half on the grass when the kerb runs out. Racing incident for me, the Sauber was just faster going into a gap that naturally narrowed slightly, and neither Maldo or Kimi could see enough of the overall situation in the time available to take avoiding action. Terrible race though, and I squarely blame Bernie for leaving us with 13 cars on the grid. If that continues how long before they consider removing points for 9th and 10th?
If Rosberg wants F1 to be more exciting then he should up his game too rather than criticising the opposition. Yes the other teams need to improve but it's not like he's pulling up trees either.
Vettel is just playing the mind games with Rosberg in particular as he knows he is the more fragile mentally and the more bruised ego. Vettel knows he isn't going to win a race unless they take each other out on track and Seb is just trying to lure them into early warfare. Maybe he believes Ferrari will slowly get the gap down and by mid season he can can get within 10-15 seconds rather than 30 which is well better? Nothing personal to Lewis and Rosberg, he's just playing the game in that he needs them to destroy each others season to even get a sniff at the WDC. If he keeps getting 2nd-3rd then it doesn't matter how big the gap is to Mercedes every race if they can out reliability Mercedes over a season. Alonso proved it's possible if the opposition keeps shooting themselves in the foot. Only problem is that Mercedes are more reliable and dominate than RBR were so a pretty insurmountable task imo.
I totally agree with the part where you say Vettel is trying to play mercedes teammates against each other... Rosbery totally fell for it hook line and sinker... The funny thing is that Lewis was there in the middle just watching them with a smile. Rosberg needs to be honest though... Just say you want the opposition to be closer so they can take points off his team mate some gets a bigger buffer if he wins a race. Yes he wants maximum team points but for sure he wants his team mate as far back as possible at the flag. I think maybe Rosberg was trying to rope in Vettel as an ally in his quest for the championship going forward like he was trying to do with Massa last year, but Vettel had other ideas and lured him out and Rosberg fell for it. The funny this is Lewis was just there smiling, didn't get involved...that the was very matured of him. The thing is if Rosberg is just depending on someone to take points off Hamilton to win the championships he is done and dusted, as hamilton has a totally different approach. He seems to be approaching this year as he said as the hunter, so Rosberg better change that negative approach quickly or he will lose before the championships end.
It's almost as if Rosberg and Hamilton have changed personalities in some ways. These days it seems Rosberg is trying to please everyone, trying to get everyone to like him, which just makes him look fake and has the opposite affect, somewhat like what Hamilton was doing in the past, making himself look the fool if I'm honest. Hamilton just seems so relaxed right now, almost quietly going about his business. I've always said that as a person Vettel is quite likeable, that said he's hardly a favourite in F1 circles. Do you think he cares with his four titles not even half way through his career? Mind games are inevitable in all sport which is why getting along with the job quietly is generally the best tactic, don't get drawn into anything, just win
How can you say the move to McLaren the first time was a bad move? He left Renault at exactly the right time to a team that despite all the issues, he nearly won the title with again (arguably would have if they had backed him as they said they were going to). He would have needed a crystal ball to forsee what was to happen with Ron piling all the support he could behind Hamilton despite what was in his contract. Hindsight is a wonderful thing. He did act like a petulant brat though with the whole situation.
And there is the point. Because they didn't back him as the no.1 and let both drivers race, he didn't like it. The two were treated equally (see Monaco where Hamilton was told to hold station) and neither received preferential equipment. Alonso knew he was expected to beat the rookie, but when it didn't happen he kicked off, then pulled that silly stunt in Hungary quali. A real 'legend' would have let his driving do the talking, instead he had horror shows like Canada where he lost his head all race.
Arrivabene, in a stunning display of normal human reaction for a Ferrari team principal, spoke to the wheel gun man post race and told him not to feel bad. Turns out the thread on the bolt was knackered before the first stop, so nothing he could do. Curious that it was only a problem on one corner though, I would have thought a materials defect would likely effect the whole car, but I suppose the rear left undergoes the most strain.
That would suggest preferential treatment wouldnt it? Also Why does everyone talk about monaco but forget Indianapolis?
I certainly looked that way. Actually, in every sense it was an inauspicious start to the season unless you're Lewis Hamilton. Where will the challenge come from? Red Bull have a history of great in-season development but they have a mountain to climb; it's hard to gauge Williams at this stage based on one car in one race; which leaves Ferrari, who were more impressive than I expected. I'm unexpectedly impressed by Arrivabene too, who has lived up to his name and arrived very well I'm just concerned that Ferrari and Red Bull will try to get the Mercedes engine neutered, which is anti-competitive and pretty shameful in my book.
