Great article that pretty much sums up the dynamic between both drivers: Rosberg was right to stand up to Hamilton - F1 - Autosport Plus Its all about proper execution...
That pretty much sums up the conclusions from FChat, as it was pretty clear what should have happened versus what did happen. Lost in all of this was the fact Verstappen had successfully done it to Rosberg a few laps earlier.
Nice. I believe Nico will be completely ruthless in his quest to become WDC after the last race, whether or not team orders are in place.
I have no problem with Nico being "ruthless" on a par with his team mate. Its funny how you can't teach ruthlessness; its really tied to character. I think he finally realizes its now or never for the WDC this year.
From a credible source, I read Merc has engineered an ingenious solution to the cars to help avoid future contact between their drivers... Looks legit to me... Image Unavailable, Please Login
AUGUST 22, 2016 Hamilton to take engine penalty at Monza It has been decided that Lewis Hamilton will slide down the grid at Monza. The reigning world champion extended his lead in the 2016 standings recently, but insisted he still doesn't feel like the true leader because he is running short on engines. "It's still not enough because I'm not a race win ahead yet," he said. "I hope I'll be able to get a race win ahead and then I'll feel like I am ahead." He will get the chance to do just that at Spa this weekend, before taking a fresh Mercedes engine and a subsequent grid penalty at Monza a week later, according to Russia's Sportbox. "Why Monza? Because we want to minimise the impact of the penalty and it's easier to overtake there," said team boss Toto Wolff.
And both easy to overtake. Whilst the run from Stavelot to Bus stop may contain plenty of corners, it's a very long run and great for overtaking; with enough traction out of Stavelot even a daring move at Blanchimont is possible (as Max wonderfully demonstrated last year, even with the slow renault engine in the back!). Furthermore, a good exit out of Bus Stop (especially after forcing one to defend entering it), a run could be made into La Source...or indeed a good exit from there again will set you up nicely for les combes... So many great overtaking spots at Spa. With the traction, aero and engine Mercedes has, Spa should be a breeze as well if they need a new engine there.
I think you guys are mis-reading here. There is no mention of a new motor for Spa. There, he intends to win. Monza is where he wants to swap for a new unit. For all I remember there has been plenty of talk (interviews?) of Hami saying he wants to unpack two new PUs in Monza because he can't start further down than last. I doubt they'll do that, it would be the biggest joke of the year and even if they'd pull it they surely can't get away withit (I guess against the spirit of the rules or something)...
Not misreading, I think Rick means with his comment that taking the penalty at either Spa or Monza doesn't really matter in regards to where he'll finish, as both are easy to overtake. So even if he does need to take a surprise engine, it doesn't matter that much. Fingers crossed for some chaos at Monza
Right...that said, if the engine is on its last legs, he runs the risk of finishing down the order in two races versus one. I don't see the reason to wait until Monza...he would have just as much luck working the field at Spa. Maybe he's thinking he'd rather have a 25+ point lead before taking the penalty, but I'm just saying that could backfire in a number of ways. Then again, Merc isn't paying me for my opinion.
You can swap engines at any time as far as I know, and use them at different times. For instance, if they retired an engine after Australia, put a new one in at Bahrain, they can now put the ''Australia'' engine in without any penalties. It's as soon as the 5 engines are up, they take penalties. They're choosing where to pick a brand new engine now, knowing that they need to take a penalty later in the season anyways, but it's better to take the engine at Spa/Monza than upcoming ones. So in other words, their new engine they'll race, they may ''retire'' after Monza, put in the current engine and use the monza one at a later date again. Terribly confusing, I know. .
In my mind its like 2014 all over again, it is a straight shoot out from now until the final flag in Abu Dhabi. It is Rosberg's "free" race to lose when Hamilton takes the engine penalty. Hamilton has the tougher mountain to climb but with his points lead, call it even, straight shoot out, let the best racer win.
I do not get it why people think that getting the engine penalty is such a disaster? The Mercedes is that dominant that even with 10 places back he is still able to finish well in the points, if not even on the podium...Everything but a DNF does not cost so many points with this car. Look at China: Lewis starting from last, colliding with the Sauber in the first corner and still finished 7th. No other car would have made this possible (maybe apart from the McLaren MP4/4), the Mercedes should be fast enough to overtake all cars but the Ferrari and RB without problems. Either Rosberg gets his act together or the WDC is already in Hamiltons bag. Only a DNF could change things. PS: I do not know whether it is allready answered or not...would Hamilton be allowed to change the engine twice over a weekend adding up the penalties because I think one time 20 places back would harm him less than two times 10...So he could get two fresh engines in the race for the WDC
He's allowed to take the hit at all once but surely there must be some limit. Imagine taking a grid penalty at the start of the season then taking 50 engines it would flout the rules entirely I think there is a huge disincentive from doing that though... The parts you take are frozen in spec. If merc make Subsequent developments to their engine then Lewis will not get them only rosberg so unless they time the engine penalty to coincide with an update Lewis is disadvantaged the rest of the year which I think could mean more than starting one race last and finishing in 6-7
But is that what you think it should be like or do you KNOW that because you read the rule book? If it is the first it does not add anyhing to the clarification of the question....
AUGUST 25, 2016 Rosberg questions Hamilton Nico Rosberg has all guns blazing as he bids to put his world championship campaign back on track at Spa and beyond. Before the summer break, the German lost his once-significant championship lead to teammate Lewis Hamilton as the British driver strung together four wins. But Rosberg now says there is a "clean slate" for Belgium and beyond. "What's happened so far this season is in the past," said the German. However, he is not quite ready to forget a controversy that happened in Hungary, which was still being discussed a week later at Hockenheim -- and now again ahead of Spa. Rosberg had his pole ultimately confirmed in Hungary, but not before Hamilton complained to Charlie Whiting that the German should have been penalised for not obeying yellow flags. "I think that (Hamilton's complaint) was regrettable," team boss Paddy Lowe said. "Personally, he should have kept to advice from the team and we can obtain that from Charlie as necessary. I don't think there was any harm done. It was just a misjudgement from that point of view," Lowe added. However, there is clearly some harm in the relationship between Rosberg and Hamilton, as even now Rosberg is still raising the matter with the press. Rosberg said sarcastically: "I think it's interesting to see how he's become such a safety freak all of a sudden. "That right after a double-yellow flag, he decides to go to the people in charge and discuss it. He's not known for being such a safety freak," Rosberg is quoted as saying by Ben Hunt, the correspondent for The Sun newspaper. Rosberg doesn't hide that the Mercedes duo's relationship is frosty. "It's difficult with so much at stake. I just want to beat him," he said.
looks like an old interview they have dug out in anticipation of the coming weekend. I have read all those lines weeks ago.
