What now for Rosberg

[BrightLampShade]

In what seems the season for writing up on drivers I thought I'd have a go for Rosberg. Bit of a change hey

Since his first season in 2006 where he was beaten by team mate Webber in the Williams (7 points to 2) he has never since been beaten by a team mate. However it wasn't until 2010 that he finally got another team mate who beating meant something. His almost doubling of Schumachers points last year firmly left its mark in the F1 world with his stock rapidly rising after his already strong Williams displays.

This year Schumacher has done a better job at Mercedes, but Rosberg has won once again fair and square. He is a top level driver and if Mercedes can come good he should be in the running for a serious title chance.

This leads me to my main point, he's a fast and somewhat proven driver, but does he have it in him to move up to the next level. Taking good points is a long way off a brutal title fight. Then there's still Schumacher, another improvement and he could be beating Rosberg, Roseberg may need to up his game again.

Your thoughts on Rosberg? The man who's never won a race, can he once day mount a title challenge?

 

[Bergkamp a Dutch master]

 

[Paco Montoya]

I feel he is more akin to Webber/Heidfeld

Talented, but needs a good car to win. Webber was a good solid driver, won races in a stunning red bull. Heidfeld also was a good driver (only losing to Mark in 2005 due to injury) but he never got a car capable of winning, the one time he did, he played the team game. Rosberg's career depends on what car he gets.

 

[Masanari]

I rate Rosberg I feel he has be unlucky thus far in his career not to have had a crack with a car that is capable of winning races. I do believe that when/if he gets a car that can win races then he will win races. As for being able to mount a title challenge again I think he would be able to, however whether he will be able to win it is another thing and I think you will only be able to judge that after we have seen his true level when he get a car up there with Red Bull, Mclaren and Ferrari and is fighting among Vettel, Button, Alonso, Hamilton and Webber.

 

[Kahn F1HR]

Haha this says it all you joker bergkamp anyway about rosberg , I cant make my mind up about this guy Yes he's beaten shummy but he gone past his prime . I want mercedes to give him a competitive car so i can see how he ranks up against the big boys. The jury's still out . If he can get a descent car and gain some confidence then maybe he can get to that level but something needs to happen to him to shake him out of apathy because to me he has been very neutral this year and with shummy getting better. He is going down the heidfeld route. Which i hope he doesn't.

 

[Speedy Klaxton]

No unfortunately I cannot see him winning a title. Winning a race and challenging for a title? Yes of course just needs a good car, but I just think Hamilton, Button, Alonso and even Webber are faster than him.

 

[EternalMSC]

Rosberg is a very talented young driver, and is in a solid partnership with the works Mercedes team. He has consistently brought home the Mercedes' full potential result most races, although as Michael speeding up again he will need to up his own game to maintain his ranking in Mercedes. Nico slammed Michael into submission in 2010, but 2011 seemed a bit lackluster. Both drivers proved Mercedes as a potential top 3 team for 2012.
As F111CR mentioned, he cannot fall the way Heidfeld did, he proved himself at the first corner in Spa, Michael proved himself to be good enough at 42 in Canada....they both need a faster Mercedes Benz very soon.

 

[Delete Me]

I think Schumacher and Nico have been sneered for both performances this year mostly at Nico as he couldn't control the tyre wear for about 4/5 of the season until the end. Nico has done really well in qualifying but I feel he is getting too much stick for the car he is driving considering he and Schumacher can never really challenge the Ferrari's let alone a McLaren unless it rains.

Nico has done some great starts as well doing some howlers. He once got up to 4-5th I believe at Monaco and right up Marks rear end, but after 4 laps trying to keep up his tyres were shot and he just went backwards from there, even the prime wouldn't last 10 laps.

Turkey was a good start for him as he jumped Webber and matched the McLarens at quali, this on an aero track which the Mercedes isn't strong at as it's strength is top speed. Again tyres robbed him of a podium and with a DRS free pass zone Nico was getting robbed on every lap.

China where he lead the race for a few laps even if it was by luck was only a few tenths slower than Seb until the tyres and eventually fuel slowed him down as the team never thought he would get that high up early on.

Belgium, though he finished behind Schumacher he tried his best to get a podium by getting in front of Seb at the start but again tyres were shot after 6-7 laps and went backwards.

Korea he had a good fight with Jenson even if it was short lived...

Brazil he looked like he was going flat out even in Q2 and he just couldn't improve the time without destroying the tyres for race day, he still beat Massa in Q3 on home turf, so surely that should be respected as well with Turkey.

Twice he has beaten Schumacher now and I don't believe even the likes of Alonso and co.. could do any better with a car that had high tyre degradation, inferior aero to the top flight and no real blown diffuser with a team still in development.

We could all say Lewis (as Mercedes sponsored) could jump in and do some magic, but I think he would get a slight shock on what difficulties both Nico and Schumacher had to deal with as tyre wear has become just as important as aero now. Nico is also compared to Jenson as a smooth driver so if he can barely last 5 laps with adequate grip what does that say for the more aggressive?

 

[TheModestMatt]

I feel Rosberg's career will mirror Jensons, great talent but has not had a car to challenge for a championship, but when he does he will be off and running!