History will judge him as the most undeserving F1 champion in the history of the sport if he wins it, however it is recorded.

 

That will always be Jacques Villeneuve.

If you look at history few drivers have been consistent and winners throughout the season.

Some have won a championship without winning races or getting onto the podium

History will judge him as the most undeserving F1 champion in the history of the sport if he wins it, however it is recorded.

Didn't Keke Rosberg become World Champion with just 2 wins?

I can't see rosberg doing it deliberately myself, and if he did, being stupid enough to admit to doing it.

I'm sceptical of what comes from Hamiltons camp.

And what is going on with his accent?

 

He spent his 'vacation' (yes, he called it that) in America I believe. It does seem to have become even stronger after the summer break.

 

IMO, Nico was still irritated that Lewis didn't obey team orders in Hungary and believes that cost him a win. The team orders talk after that race probably put Nico in a "we're fighting for ourselves" mindset and then when Lewis got the jump on him at the start thought he wasn't going to take it lying down and got a bit too fighty going into that corner. Very much doubt there was a conscious decision to do that as it also ruined his race.

 

Perhaps the strength of the tyre side walls should be looked at. They do seen very vulnerable to punctures of this nature, the same thing happened to Bianchi too.

Didn't Keke Rosberg become World Champion with just 2 wins?

1 win actually, but in 1982 no-one won more than 2 races, 11 different drivers won races (a record in itself, there had never been as many different winners in one season before and haven't been since), and Keke won at Monaco.

 

Perhaps the strength of the tyre side walls should be looked at. They do seen very vulnerable to punctures of this nature, the same thing happened to Bianchi too.

 

 

They did a little feature on Sky.

Apparently... when the tyre is loaded, there's a 3-4cm section which if hit, gives a 90% chance of a puncture. The rest of the tyre has a fairly neglibible chance.

I think if they made it more reinforced, they'd lose some of the suspension effect of the tyre... they need that to actually function.

There was testing of lower profile tyres earlier this year which would also mean changes to suspension and damping if it gets introduced - it would be pretty straightforward to soften up the car to compensate.

http://www.espn.co.uk/f1/motorsport/story/166501.html

I'd have thought that this would also reduce the chances of getting a puncture with less surface area to be hit.

Seems like Mercedes have taken disciplinary action against Rosberg. No details yet (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/28983758), so what does everyone think it'll be?

 

I'm guessing either a] an ice bucket over him prior to the start of the next race, or b] a Lego front wing.

 

Somehow I doubt Rosberg will be terribly concerned!

Edited 29 August, 201411 yr by jlwah

Seems like Mercedes have taken disciplinary action against Rosberg. No details yet (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/28983758), so what does everyone think it'll be?

 

I'm guessing either a] an ice bucket over him prior to the start of the next race, or b] a Lego front wing.

 

Somehow I doubt Rosberg will be terribly concerned!

Yeah, that's what I heard, shame they can't transfer points in my view.

Edited 29 August, 201411 yr by vrskeith

Statement from Nico reads as follows:

 

 

In the days since the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what happened during the race and discussing it with the team.
 

I have already expressed my regret about the incident but, after meeting with Toto, Paddy and Lewis today, I wish to go a step further and describe it as an error of judgement on my part.
 

The number one rule for us as team-mates is that we must not collide but that is exactly what happened.
 

For that error of judgement, I apologise to Lewis and the team. I also want to say sorry to the fans who were deprived of our battle for the lead in Belgium. Lewis and I have been given clear instructions about how we race each other.
 

As drivers, we have a clear responsibility to the team, the fans of the sport, our partners and Mercedes-Benz to deliver clean racing.

 

We take that responsibility very seriously.
I look forward to concluding the season with hard, fair competition on and off track right up to the final lap of the season in Abu Dhabi.

 

Statement from Mercedes Benz is here: http://www.mercedesamgf1.com/en/news/2014/2014-belgian-grand-prix-team-statement/

 

 

So both drivers will be backing off when behind now? Can't wait for Monza #fireworks !!!

 

 

Reading the comments on the Sky/BBC articles is brilliant.

People talking absolute rubbish.... but that's what the internet is for.



I like it in here, we have a reasonable conversation about things.. for the most part.

Reading the comments on the Sky/BBC articles is brilliant.

People talking absolute rubbish.... but that's what the internet is for.

I like it in here, we have a reasonable conversation about things.. for the most part.

Andrew Benson couldn't factually and accurately report on an envelope being opened!

Andrew Benson couldn't factually and accurately report on an envelope being opened!

I have agreed with this for some time.

He fails on many levels, and sometimes I don't even think he is a fan of the sport.

What is he saying wrong?

The fact there's an apparent disciplinary for Nico which is "another similar incident "will not be tolerated"."

 

How can you report on news and not detail the news. Or is that what's wrong?

Can't wait for the next collision.......I mean racing incident.........I mean sabotage........I mean team conspiracy......I mean victimology!

You know what I mean, don't you?

So basically no punishment for Rosberg (apart from some relatively trivial fine).

 

I'm thinking that Mercedes bosses (German) don't want any punishment that would prevent Rosberg (German) from winning drivers championship.

 

If I was Hamilton, I'd pay one of the Marussia or Caterham drivers to take out Rosberg whenever he tries to lap them (it's probably safer all round that I'm not an F1 driver!!) 

I can't really see what else Mercedes could have done to be fair to them without penalising themselves, and they've scored enough own goals since Ross B and Bob left.

 

In the circumstances, I think they've tried and succeeded in publicly having the drivers bury the hatchet...sort of...with mutual displays of grown up tolerant understanding expressed on their respective FB pages. I suspect that the hatchets will come out again and be buried somewhere else as soon as they hit the track and nothing wrong in that providing they don't have another "coming together".  Rosberg cannot afford to be seen as the instigator of another incident, the fallout would be too great for him and I do believe that MB would have to issue a race suspension affecting his title hopes if it happened, rather than risk him taking both drivers out again, or at least not achieving the 1-2 finish that they're certainly capable of and should have got at Spa.

 

The more pressing issue for Lewis I think is in whether the team can provide a reliable car for the rest of the season. He needs 100% reliability between now and the chequered flag of the last race if he is to stand any sort of a chance at rescuing this years title.

 

It remains to be seen if Rosberg gets his share of "bad luck" on the reliability front.  More likely that the race will go to the wire, so short of a DNF on Rosberg's side of the garage, Lewis has his work cut out.  I can't see him staying with MB next season if they can't provide him with a reliable car.

 I can't see him staying with MB next season if they can't provide him with a reliable car.

But would Lewis seriously think of leaving the team with the fastest car? True, next season others might have made up some ground but that would be a mighty risk on his part.

 

My guess is he'd come back fully focused for the 2015 season, win the championship and then move elsewhere at the end of his contract.

 

But then again, stranger things have happened in F1.

Perhaps, but fair play is all Lewis has ever been after and if it looks like that's not on the cards with MB then I wouldn't be surprised to see him move.  Lewis in a Williams would be interesting...By next season, many of the teams will have caught up and perhaps MB wont hold onto such a large dominance.

Monza this weekend and the Hamilton / Rosberg battle can recommence.

 

If I was Lewis, I'd get my engineers to fit a set of these just in case:

 

 

It's a low down force power circuit, so does anyone not driving a Mercedes have any chance?

Looking forward to it too. Just for a sense of balance on this thread:

COME ON NICO!

Could be an interesting race if the Mercedes are one and two on the grid. With those two long straights and DRS the lead could change a few times. Pit stop timing and tyre choice will play a big part in the race no doubt.

I like what Mercedes are telling the children. "Get on or Get out!"

do you want to drive the best car of this season and possibly of next ?

Do you ?

Do you ?

Do you *want* to end up driving for Ferrari ?

 

well then you'd better learn how to get along with each other, hadn't you !

 

Don't make me pick a favourite !

Good race through the field today. Hamilton made a good recovery and put the pressure on Rosberg. Vettel didn't seem keen on Ricciardo getting past him.

Rosberg still getting booed.

...but Jean Alesi wearing trainers with a suit...WTF.

Edited 7 September, 201411 yr by moley