Hamilton has been pretty mature this year, the situation would be a lot worse (a bit more amusing too) if it was his younger self.
The F1 Thread 2014 Season
- Thread starter Rado_N
- Start date
100%. I can put a lot of money down on him returning.
Yeah it's pretty common to have escape clauses but that's true for both Rosberg and Hamilton.
Does anybody really believe that Rosberg didn't pull that stunt in Monaco on purpose? I think everybody believes that he did but it's very hard to prove that Rosberg did it and he got away with it because it wasn't quite as obvious as Schumacher's parking maneuver.
TBH I don't think they were happy to share data even before this race. Now their relationship is broken beyond repair but the people in charge (Lowe, Wolff, Lauda) of this could simply go over the drivers heads for the good of the team.
In the end I just don't see Mercedes getting rid of Rosberg.
Maybe if they could replace him with Vettel. But even then I think it would be a bit more likely that Hamilton leaves and Mercedes continues with an all-German driver team.
It's not entirely unthinkable that they'd get rid of Rosberg. There's bound to be some bad feeling towards him from within the team for the incident today, considering he basically cost them a 1-2, and I'd bet there are at least a few in there who weren't impressed with his 'mistake' in Monaco. Lauda seems to be a big Hamilton fan, and I'm guessing Paddy Lowe has a better relationship with Lewis than Nico. Not sure about Toto, but I'm also not sure how much influence he has yet. Plus as well as being the (slightly) quicker driver, Hamilton's far more marketable than Rosberg globally (considering viewing figures in Germany are down on previous years, Rosberg doesn't even seem to be that popular in Germany). They could try to get Hulkenberg or even Vettel in if they're that desperate for a German driver anyway.
I don't think Rosberg is taken seriously enough that Merc would choose him just because he's German.
They know Hamilton is one of the quickest on the grid (with Alonso he's probably top) and as said above, if they need a German then they could throw money at Vettel or go with Hulkenberg. Both are better than Rosberg IMO.
They know Hamilton is one of the quickest on the grid (with Alonso he's probably top) and as said above, if they need a German then they could throw money at Vettel or go with Hulkenberg. Both are better than Rosberg IMO.
Nico behaving badly. Just what world champions do in this sport from time to time.
It's hard to imagine Merc dumping Rosberg if he wins the title this season, surely?
Mercedes now saying they're giving the drivers time to calm down 
Feck off with that!
It should have been taken out of Mercedes hands long before now if the FIA had any balls....they must investigate and punish Rosberg.
Feck off with that! It should have been taken out of Mercedes hands long before now if the FIA had any balls....they must investigate and punish Rosberg.
From what Wolff said, Rosberg said that he didn't back out so as to make a point. The point being, I assume, "I don't need to get out of your way".
That's very different to admitting deliberately hitting him.
Still frigging stupid, but I don't know what the FIA can really do now.
If Rosberg had actually said "yea, I drove into you on purpose" then its a different matter. But I don't think he's stupid enough to do that. Although not far off.
That's very different to admitting deliberately hitting him.
Still frigging stupid, but I don't know what the FIA can really do now.
If Rosberg had actually said "yea, I drove into you on purpose" then its a different matter. But I don't think he's stupid enough to do that. Although not far off.
Surely with Hamilton in front Rosberg did have to get out his way and ensure he did not run into him. The fact remains as can be seen by the film he turned his car away and then back into Hamiltons tyre and that should be punished.
No doubt there is a lot of talking behind the scenes and it will be buried along with the Monaco incident with the usual bullshit that lessons have been learnt and we all move forward together.
No doubt there is a lot of talking behind the scenes and it will be buried along with the Monaco incident with the usual bullshit that lessons have been learnt and we all move forward together.
Causing an avoidable accident is still cause for punishment.
However I think if the Fia stewards would have taken that stance then they'd have investigated Rosberg during the race.
I think it'll be very hard for the FIA to get involved on the basis of post race comments but they are known to be inconsistent.
However I think if the Fia stewards would have taken that stance then they'd have investigated Rosberg during the race.
I think it'll be very hard for the FIA to get involved on the basis of post race comments but they are known to be inconsistent.
This is pretty much how I see it.
Rosberg wasn't going to give it up and contact was the end result. No way do I think he did it on purpose. To be honest this is being blown out of proportion its the type of incident you see almost every race.
Its like McLaren 2008 all over again, Mercedes should learn from that and keep it in house.
Personally I think its great, spicing up what I thought was going to be a total bore of a season.
I still think Hamilton will win the title, Rosberg isn't one of the top ten drivers in F1.
Great analysis from Anthony Davidson although I'm not sure the contact was not deliberate.
At the very least, it seemed reckless for such an experience driver.
At the very least, it seemed reckless for such an experience driver.
I agree with what Weber says 100%, Nico and Lewis are not acting like a team, but what do you expect when one of them will be World Champion, I expect more clashes before the season is over and then one of them will leave.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/28967288
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/28967288
When you get a dominant car and the drivers are close the probability of a fallout is just really high, just the nature of the beast.
It will be a safe bet to say that whoever doesn't win the World championship will leave this year or next, I really feel this will happen.
Well Hamilton isn't deciding whether to extend his contract until after Abu Dhabi. The driver market might wait till then (or before if its a foregone conclusion) before the merry go round begins.
Well yeah, he is.
Yeah bit of a weird comment that one. Ok a chance he isn't top 5, but top 10 he is without a doubt.
Alonso, Raikkonen, Vettel, Ricciardo, Hamilton, Hulkenburg, Bottas, Button, Bianchi? Massa? OK he might just be in the top 10.
Good lord.
He's comfortably inside the Top 10. I don't think you can quantify a drivers talent to order them 1-10 but you can atleast put them in their own tiers. For me Rosberg is a Tier 2 driver and considering I'd only have probably 3 drivers in Tier 1 thats easily in the Top 10.
Very interesting....
I would say this too. Hamilton, Alonso and Vettel would be tier 1 for me, the rest above tier 2. Raikonnen from last season would be tier 1, but his driving has declined for some reason. I wonder if his back is letting him down?
Nico is to be punished by Mercedes, no other info yet.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/28983758
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/formula1/28983758
Does it matter, really? Whatever they do will hardly affect the championship.
An old phantom engine blow is in order, then again knowing Hamilton's luck they would probably do it to the wrong drivers engine.
no your right, but proves that he was in the wrong and should of had a penalty in the race.
Of course it matters. Drivers can't just go unpunished when they cheat. Shame the FIA had no balls to give a fitting punishment.
but what punishment could they give that will actually mean anything to Rosberg?
He's clearly meaning the punishment Mercedes dish out won't fit with the crime really. It'll be a slap on the wrists basically and nothing more. He basically ruined Hamiltons chance for a win/points in that race which would have drew Hamilton closer in the championship, instead, he made a move which left Hamilton with nothing and him with a good points finish, so instead of being -2 points down to Hamilton that race or whatever (not sure how the points work now), he extended his lead with like +20?
The punishment Nico will get will mean nothing, what I would like to see , is his points taken off him for the race.
His team have said that it was his fault and have disciplined him FIA need to strip him of all the points he won in the race.
His team have said that it was his fault and have disciplined him FIA need to strip him of all the points he won in the race.
It's still not fitting imo, as Hamilton has lost points due to Rosberg being a dick. Don't know what they could do really, remove his points for the race and a race or 2 ban?
Mercedes can take a million dollars out of Roseberg's salary, but I doubt it will overly bother him and he'll be happy to pay another million to gain an extra 18 points over Hamilton. That's why I don't see an importance in a team penalty. Unless they punish him in a way that hurts him in the title battle, it will be meaningless, even if some people feel happy he was punished.
As for the FIA, you don't need balls to punish Rosberg, you need a reason. He made a stupid error, but cheat? He damaged his own chances in the race without knowing Hamilton will be caused a more severe damage.
Technically they could do that. I'm happy they're not. Race stewards have been told in recent weeks to be more leniet toward drivers, not to be so quick to bring them in for a stop and go penalty, for example. And it's good. F1 has already become too artificial. I don't want the stewards to be too involved, I don't want to see race results changes too often after it's all over (though I know it was done in Belgium with Magnussen). Drivers will make mistakes, but I don't want them to be too afraid to do them. A bad move is a part of racing just as much as a good move.
Cheating is something else. But there's absolutely no evidence of Rosberg doing that (despite Hamilton hearing what he wanted to hear in the Mercedes debrief), so there's nothing to do there.
Yes, cheat. Like he did in Monaco. In Belgium he knew putting his nose fin into Hamilton's tyre it would likely deflate it which would mean Hamilton would struggle to get back to the pits....he took the risk of it causing his car damage knowing it would not be as bad as Hamiltons.
I am still pissed off at FIA not acting but at least Mercedes did something.
Cheat , I dont think that is too strong.
Second time this season he has caused Lewis problems.
The first in Q3 was pure cheating, he knew what he was doing and the results it would have.
Too much assumption and too little evidence. Nowhere near enough for the FIA to interfere in the title battle.
Same thing I wrote Marching...
I know this forum is full of Hamilton fans because he's English and all. He's been massively unlucky this year, but seriously...
Absolute nonsense, how can you possibly say he knew it would cause more damage to Hamiltons car?
He wasn't going to give it up, he admitted that himself. Yes he made a mistake, yes it was his fault.
I really hope he wins the title just to witness all the crying on here.
This you will find just as many hates as fans , English or not and really that is not the problem, the problem is that Nico has twice caused one driver to have problems by cheating.
I am a big Lewis fan but know he can be a cock, but he has every right to feel aggravated, he was cheated out of points by his so called team mate.