Is Rosberg Safe For 2016?

[Emmcee 0]

http://www.gptoday.com/full_story/view/528759/Reader_Rights_Mercedes_should_reconsider_Rosberg_for_2016/

What do you guys think?

[Jem of the Shire 0]

He's completely safe. He's not beating Lewis but who cares, Merc are winning everything, they don't need to change drivers to push the team higher as the article suggests. They're dominating both championships for the 2nd year running. And with the 2016 rules staying the same, there's every reason to think they'll dominate next year too.

Plus it's not like Nico is even doing a bad job, he's won plenty of races for the team.

[Emmcee 0]

That's is true but he isn't as good as last season. Or maybe he is but lewis has simply gotten better.

[spiral.out 0]

Well if Kimi isnt then neither is Rosberg....

[deckard 0]

Of course he's safe, why would Merc consider replacing him, he's become an excellent No.2 driver. Anybody they replaced him with wouldn't be any closer to Lewis.

As much as I'm not a fan of Hamilton, his driving this year is on a different planet from everybody else.

Nico should leave Merc for his own frame of mind and get away from the shadow of Lewis. Re-establish himself in his and every ones eyes.

[Emmcee 0]

Of course he's safe, why would Merc consider replacing him, he's become an excellent No.2 driver. Anybody they replaced him with wouldn't be any closer to Lewis.

As much as I'm not a fan of Hamilton, his driving this year is on a different planet from everybody else.

Nico should leave Merc for his own frame of mind and get away from the shadow of Lewis. Re-establish himself in his and every ones eyes.

Well said, ricciardo could beat lewis, what you think?

[spiral.out 0]

As much as I'm not a fan of Hamilton, his driving this year is on a different planet from everybody else.

It's on a different planet from Rosbergs. It's hard to compare to anyone elses's in much worse equipment.

[deckard 0]

Well said, ricciardo could beat lewis, what you think?

Last year yes, this year no. Lewis is just too good this year, he's really 'at one' with the car, and the car is too good.

It's on a different planet from Rosbergs. It's hard to compare to anyone elses's in much worse equipment.

No sorry. He's just too tuned in this year.

Like a said, I'm not a fan, especially of his life outside of racing, but as a 49yo male I clearly can't relate to his life, but I can't deny his talent and ability in a car. Especially this year.

[spiral.out 0]

No sorry. He's just too tuned in this year.

Like a said, I'm not a fan, especially of his life outside of racing, but as a 49yo male I clearly can't relate to his life, but I can't deny his talent and ability in a car. Especially this year.

Yeah still not buying it. He's naturally more gifted than Rosberg sure, and he's driving well. But he's in the fastest car, it handles perfectly, it's reliable, he's not caught up in midfield battles and he is just coasting at the front. Hardly scope for saying he is on a different planet from everyone else. Or maybe you can say that but you need to acknowledge the reasons. Put Alonso or Vettel in the other car and you would see how his planet is. Rosberg is just another Massa.

I'm not a fan either. The guys a clown. Make the sport harder and he'll have less time to clown it up with his rich gansta mates I say.

[deckard 0]

Yeah still not buying it. He's naturally more gifted than Rosberg sure, and he's driving well. But he's in the fastest car, it handles perfectly, it's reliable, he's not caught up in midfield battles and he is just coasting at the front. Hardly scope for saying he is on a different planet from everyone else. Or maybe you can say that but you need to acknowledge the reasons. Put Alonso or Vettel in the other car and you would see how his planet is. Rosberg is just another Massa.

It's all personal opinion at the end of the day. The same argument could be used to compare Rosberg to Massa, how do you know they're just the same? they've never been in the same car.

Lewis and Vettel, Lewis and Alonso same deal.

I'm not a fan either. The guys a clown. Make the sport harder and he'll have less time to clown it up with his rich gansta mates I say.

Again, I can't relate to his lifestyle outside of F1 but that doesn't make it wrong. Look back at the earlier years of F1, James Hunt, Keke Rosberg even Barry Sheene from bikes, they were the same, sure they may have done it with more style and class, but they weren't that much different.

[Emmcee 0]

Yeah still not buying it. He's naturally more gifted than Rosberg sure, and he's driving well. But he's in the fastest car, it handles perfectly, it's reliable, he's not caught up in midfield battles and he is just coasting at the front. Hardly scope for saying he is on a different planet from everyone else. Or maybe you can say that but you need to acknowledge the reasons. Put Alonso or Vettel in the other car and you would see how his planet is. Rosberg is just another Massa.

I'm not a fan either. The guys a clown. Make the sport harder and he'll have less time to clown it up with his rich gansta mates I say.

I agree, I honestly think based on true pace, ricciardo or alonso or Vettel would give lewis a real hard time. He wouldn't be walking towards another title that's for sure.

[Emmcee 0]

It's all personal opinion at the end of the day. The same argument could be used to compare Rosberg to Massa, how do you know they're just the same? they've never been in the same car.

Lewis and Vettel, Lewis and Alonso same deal.

Again, I can't relate to his lifestyle outside of F1 but that doesn't make it wrong. Look back at the earlier years of F1, James Hunt, Keke Rosberg even Barry Sheene from bikes, they were the same, sure they may have done it with more style and class, but they weren't that much different.

Lewis and fernando have been in the same car before, Mclaren 2007 and IMHO if fernando didnt ruffle so many feathers, he would have had the support he needed to take the title that year. To many in team politics favoured and made lewis better than he was. Not down talking lewis as I think besides last year 2007 was his best year in terms of driving ability but all the drivers say it time and time again and even lewis himself that alonso is the fastest out there. So I think fernando would beat lewis and even possibly ricciardo would also as Lewis's weakness is his mental ability to cope with frustrating situations. We have seen it in the past, throwing away decent results as pressure gets to much, very similar to mark webber in that sense.

[rstlne 0]

There are only two reasons Rosberg would leave Mercedes: Mercedes does not want to pay him as much as they will have to for the results he gets or he personally would rather be a clear number one on a lesser team. If the former, well, I guess if someone like Hülkenberg could do the same thing cheaper which is to win races and be German, both of which he could do for sure, maybe. As for the latter, he should talk to Fernando Alonso. I insist Alonso's career would have been far better if he'd taken Hamilton on again 2008. Yes, he was losing the team and it probably would've been bad, but 2008 was his for the taking with all the follies of Hamilton, Massa, BMW (poor Kubica), and Kimi. I mean, 2008...Massa contended for a title and Toro Rosso won a race. Weird season! Alonso could have won that WDC in McLaren. Ask Barrichello, too. Was it really better to do nothing at BAR than to get your annual "thanks" by winning one or two in a Ferrari?

I don't see Mercedes dumping him, though. One day, like 2017 if the rules change a lot, they may not have this big advantage and will need two people who can really score for the WCC. Rosberg is, right now, as good a driver as you can get because he's just below good enough to be a number one. And because all the other teams have a clear number one or require pay drivers and thus cannot offer Rosberg stupid money, he's pretty much forced to stay.

Now, for something else: anyone else in 2006 remember the rumors that McLaren and Williams were going to do a trade of Hamilton for Rosberg straight up? That was the talk of a few months. Mercedes wanted the "next German WDC" and Williams the British one. So many what ifs.

[spiral.out 0]

It's all personal opinion at the end of the day. The same argument could be used to compare Rosberg to Massa, how do you know they're just the same? they've never been in the same car.

Lewis and Vettel, Lewis and Alonso same deal.

Again, I can't relate to his lifestyle outside of F1 but that doesn't make it wrong. Look back at the earlier years of F1, James Hunt, Keke Rosberg even Barry Sheene from bikes, they were the same, sure they may have done it with more style and class, but they weren't that much different.

Rosberg and Massa are support drivers, journeymen, there to make up the numbers. They are all drivers who lack the x-factor. Schumaker, Kimi, Alonso, Vettel, Hamilton have (or had) it to varying degrees.

Who said it was wrong?

I agree, I honestly think based on true pace, ricciardo or alonso or Vettel would give lewis a real hard time. He wouldn't be walking towards another title that's for sure.

Yep.

[Emmcee 0]

Glad we agree in something, kudos mate

[spiral.out 0]

Glad we agree in something, kudos mate

Can we agree I look good in my sisters pants?

[Emmcee 0]

Well I guess so lol.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

Quote - "So I think fernando would beat lewis and even possibly ricciardo would also as Lewis's weakness is his mental ability to cope with frustrating situations"

I disagree. Alonso is far worse when it comes to spitting his dummy out, and we have no idea how Dan would cope as he's never been there. Dan's racecraft is amazing and his pace is good but IMO he wouldn't outpace Lewis. I don't think any of the current field would.

[spiral.out 0]

Maybe F1 should use standard chassis and aero, but retain engine manufacturers. Then it would be a better comparison.

[Emmcee 0]

Maybe F1 should use standard chassis and aero, but retain engine manufacturers. Then it would be a better comparison.

Or maybe just return to how the sport was run in the mid 90s before the massive shakeup in 98.

[Jem of the Shire 0]

I dunno webric, 1999 was the most entertaining season ever!

[maure 1]

deckard, I find myself agreeing with everything you've said.

[spiral.out 0]

There's no way around it. They need to limit maximum down force and allow unrestricted development then gtf on with it.

[Emmcee 0]

I dunno webric, 1999 was the most entertaining season ever!

That was a good season but so was 1997 and IMO that was the last "real" season of f1 in terms of unlimited testing and car development with cars with max aero and mechanical grip.

[Emmcee 0]

There's no way around it. They need to limit maximum down force and allow unrestricted development then gtf on with it.

Yep totally agree and allow more mechanical grip, qualifying engines the worx, the way f1 is supposed to be. If its expensive, so what, that's what f1 is, it's only hard for these smaller teams because Bernie is such a tighta$$ now. We had more teams say 20 odd years ago and they were free to do as they please. This resulted in more smaller teams being more competitive and scoring more points than back marker teams now and they only scored points in the top 6 with 25/30 cars compared to the top 10 with 20 cars now.