In the round-up: Nico Rosberg says he expects the 2015 world championship to be a fight between him and Lewis Hamilton again.
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Rosberg doesn’t see Ferrari as a Formula One threat (The Australian)
"I am fully optimistic and believe it will (be a) duel, Lewis against me again."
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Comment of the day
Does F1 need rule changes to increase engine power – or will development take care of the need for more speed?
I still think its something which should be left alone as the engines are going to get more powerful and the cars are going to get faster anyway so there’s no need to make a big push for it via more rule changes.
For instance I saw an article earlier from Pirelli saying from the data they have from teams and with the tyre compounds there going for there expecting the cars to be up to three seconds a lap faster this year.
I still think the focus should be on the racing and not the spectacle, wow factor and show. You can have the most spectacular, wow factor cars in the history of F1 but if the racing is rubbish then what’s the point.
For all the complaining and criticism from guys like Ecclestone, people at Ferrari and whoever else last year I thought the racing was actually pretty good and overall I enjoyed 2014 more than the past few and I’d rather more seasons like that with the current cars than more spectacle if the racing isn’t so good.
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On this day in F1
Formula One’s nose problem began three years ago today when the Caterham CT01 first appeared and confirmed fears over how the rules had led designers to create some unappealing cars.
Strontium (@strontium)
25th January 2015, 0:06
Ferrari almost definitely won’t be the threat. If there is one it is most likely Red Bull, or maybe Williams.
I hope Rosberg can up his game one more notch and really take the challenge to Hamilton, more so than last year.
mfreire
25th January 2015, 3:37
I think they will almost certainly be better than last year. They will have their first James Allison car running on the grid.
Blackmamba (@blackmamba)
25th January 2015, 5:54
Allison will make a good car if 2012 Lotus is anything to go by. That car would have won the championship in Alonso’s hands seeing how he has fared against first Grosjean then Kimi as teammates.
Jon (@johns23)
28th January 2015, 0:25
100% agree! 2012 i said that every race.
anon
25th January 2015, 9:44
@mfreire, the 2015 car probably doesn’t have that much influence from Allison at this point in the season. Tombazis, who was the chief designer at Ferrari until recently, would have initiated development of their 2015 car – although Allison has taken over at a point where mid season upgrades for the car might bear his signature, the basic concept of the car will be Tombazis’s work, not Allison’s.
In fact, there were claims in the German press that there were quite a few parts that Allison wanted to change – most notably the front suspension layout – that have had to remain the same because it would entail having to scrap months of development work.
I would imagine that the most he can do is to guide the subsequent development of the car and perhaps use it as a test bed for a new design direction for 2016, when he can make much larger scale changes to the design philosophy of the car.
The other aspect would be whether Ferrari have improved their power unit by a significant amount too – they were generally thought to have the weakest power unit by the end of last year, and that would be something that arguably falls outside of Allison’s control.
zoom (@zoomracing)
25th January 2015, 10:35
Allison joined in 2013, and his position is never going to be the same Tombazis had, this year’s car is Allison’s car, at least the part that concerns his job.
Ferrari is going to blame Tombazis as the scapegoat, mark my words.
ed
25th January 2015, 14:41
If it were his car i bet they woulndt be using a pull rod front suspension.
MagicSpin
26th January 2015, 17:43
not the Ferrari way.
You can’t fire somebody who’s already fired
MagicSpin
26th January 2015, 17:41
and Honda have their first Peter Prodromou car running on the grid…
grat
26th January 2015, 22:49
I have a feeling people are underestimating how important that is.
W-K (@w-k)
25th January 2015, 8:05
If Lotus and McLaren don’t have problems with their changes of engines, if Williams and Force India improve due to their greater experience of the Mercedes PU installation, and RBR still do ok.
Then I can quite easily see Ferrari ending the season in 7th place.
lockup (@)
25th January 2015, 11:55
Yep @w-k Ferrari should have improved but everybody else WILL have improved. James Allison started 1st September 2013 so if he hasn’t had interference from on high then this is ‘his’ car, albeit amidst all the sackings.
Yes I can easily see them battling with Lotus and Force India, OR Allison could be a complete star, let us see.
Of course just because he was at Lotus for 2012 doesn’t mean their success was down to him, it’s so hard to know who contributed what, look at Mark Smith – part of the Renault Dream Team that came up with the 2005 rocketship then ending up sacked by Caterham.
Jack (@jmc200)
25th January 2015, 0:19
Haha, I think that Caterham looks great. Time is a healer.
mantresx (@mantresx)
25th January 2015, 1:28
No kidding! I don’t want to imagine how they will look like in 5 or 10 years
Kingshark (@kingshark)
25th January 2015, 0:20
Rosberg’s biggest strength in his arsenal, and the only reason I believe that he can be a threat to Hamilton for the WDC once again next year, is his qualifying pace.
His best bet for 2015 is to qualify ahead of Lewis at least in 11 to 12 races (he is the only driver on the grid capable for doing that, because IMO Rosberg is the best qualifier on the grid), and then control the race from the lead with track position.
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
25th January 2015, 20:53
@kingshark You mean like he did in Bahrein, Suzuka, Austin, Abu Dhabi and Monza? I must admit Rosberg stunned me with his qualy pace but I still think it’s nowhere near Hamilton at his near best. And even when he does on a saturday it’s bound to go downhill on sunday.
Kingshark (@kingshark)
26th January 2015, 0:16
@xtwl
In Bahrain, Hamilton just got a better start, which decided the entire race by track position. Same goes with Abu Dhabi.
About Monza, Suzuka, and Austin you are right. Then again, Rosberg was able to maintain position in Monaco, Austria, and Brazil. What I’m saying is that he needs to control the races which he leads going into turn 1 from the front.
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
26th January 2015, 6:58
@kingshark I undrstand what you mean but I just don’t think Rosberg can do this week in week out. Monaco and Austria, barely a possibility to overtake. Brazil, I don’t know how he did it but Lewis was clearly miles faster. I think Brazil was Rosberg his best race of last season. I feel like it’s the only win he fully deserved and had to fight for. Remember how Lewis spun but after his pitstop it took him under 5 laps to close down the 7s gap….
Kingshark (@kingshark)
26th January 2015, 23:28
@xtwl
It took Lewis 20 laps (from lap 29 to lap 49) to close the gap to Rosberg from 7.46 seconds to 2.04 seconds. That’s an average advantage of 0.271 seconds/lap.
https://www.racefans.net/2014/11/09/2014-brazilian-grand-prix-lap-charts/
I have no idea where you got the 7 seconds in 5 laps from. That would give Lewis a 1.4 second advantage/lap, and Lewis was nowhere near that much quicker than Nico in Brazil. More like 2-3 tenths/lap.
Also, Rosberg’s best drive in 2014 was Canada, not Brazil. In Canada he was just brilliant, especially both Q3 and the last 20 laps of the race.
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
27th January 2015, 21:10
@kingshark My mistake, no idea where I got those numbers then? Going to look into it though.
On his best race, let’s agree to disagree.
Supremacy (@supremacy)
27th January 2015, 12:19
@kingshark
Let’s be honest now, before the 2014 season you didn’t think Nico was the best qualifier on the grid.
Could it be that Lewis’ strategy (which he hasn’t shared publicly yet) had a factor in Nico having more qualis that Lewis in the end?
Kingshark (@kingshark)
28th January 2015, 7:39
@supremacy
Not necessarily the best, but I’ve considered Rosberg a very good qualifier for many years now.
In Malaysia 2010 he beat Vettel despite having a weaker car in a wet qualifying session, and only Webber’s gamble on inters prevented him from even getting pole position that weekend. A few weeks later in China he beat both McLaren drivers in Q3 despite driving an inferior car. At Turkey 2011 he lined up best of the rest behind the Red Bulls despite (again) driving a weaker car than the McLaren duo. His pole in China 2012 was inch perfect, and he was absolutely up there with Lewis in qualifying in 2013.
Neil (@neilosjames)
25th January 2015, 0:25
Was happy with the two-way title fight last season but would really love to see another team in the mix this time. Don’t see it happening, but it’s what I’d prefer.
@HoHum (@hohum)
25th January 2015, 0:33
But even if MB are still ahead there should be a great fight for next best between an improved Williams, a RB with more power and an interesting McHonda.
lockup (@)
25th January 2015, 7:32
Yes indeed @hohum the battle for third should be wonderful, it’s not all about the win.
@HoHum (@hohum)
25th January 2015, 0:39
I’m sure Vettel is hopeing he will be close enough to see Rosbergs taillight.
Blackmamba (@blackmamba)
25th January 2015, 5:50
Vettel will be more worried about Kimi more than anything else. If he got beat by someone who was do thoroughly smashed by Alonso he will never live it down.
Philip (@philipgb)
25th January 2015, 1:11
So if Vettel will see his taillights on many occasions is that Rosberg conceding Hamilton won’t be inbetween them?
Blackmamba (@blackmamba)
25th January 2015, 5:31
I doubt very much that Rosberg is the type of guy to be so arrogant as to utter those words. You know how journalists like to twist things for click bait. Literally a few minutes ago I saw a headline saying ‘Eminem comes out of the closet’, clicked on it only to discover that it was only in some lame TV spoof.
Philip (@philipgb)
25th January 2015, 8:31
Ah you misunderstood me. I meant because Hamilton will be in front of Rosberg :-)
Supremacy (@supremacy)
27th January 2015, 12:23
:D
MnM is way too macho for that! Hahaha
TheBullWhipper (@thebullwhipper)
25th January 2015, 1:26
Agree with COTD the fastest cars were around 2004 when most lap records were set and still stand, yet the racing was very processional and quite frankly a borefest at times.
I’m all for wider tyres for better grip, not just because they look cool and I don’t mind how the overall cars look, it’s good wheel to wheel action that should be the primary objective.
@HoHum (@hohum)
25th January 2015, 1:32
+1 to the nth.
Peter (@boylep6)
25th January 2015, 9:34
(+1)^n is just +1… btw. Perhaps you meant n x (+1) ?
PorscheF1 (@xtwl)
25th January 2015, 20:55
@boylep6 Lovely.
AmbroseRPM (@ambroserpm)
25th January 2015, 2:21
I was watching the 2004 Spanish GP yesterday and I could count the overtakes on one hand. Today’s racing is much better compared to it. If we get the sound to be louder, ‘the show’ in my opinion will be as strong as ever.
Mashiat2 (@mashiat2)
25th January 2015, 3:16
@ambroserpm Thank you! That’s what I’ve been trying to tell people. I started watching F1 in 2005, and frankly, qualifying was more important that the race, because 9/10, he who was on pole, won.
Neil (@neilosjames)
25th January 2015, 3:08
The only thing I liked more about that era was the onboards. Not that we ever got to see many…
BasCB (@bascb)
25th January 2015, 9:09
Count me in on that one as well @thebullwhipper
ForzaAlanRabbit (@jojobudgie)
25th January 2015, 9:11
I must admit that last years
Showdown was an epic and on the whole it was a very good season. But I just would like to see another team (or two) in the mix, most likely Williams or red bull but lotus with Mercedes engine could be interesting and we can only guess how the Honda mclaren will be. Ferrari is an interesting one because we don’t really know much but I don’t expect them to do particularly well. Force India I guess are dark horses again. Sauber and toro Rosso are the only team left that are likely to compete are unfortunately likely to be last.
MagicSpin
26th January 2015, 17:46
well speaking of epic showdowns and Williams and Red Bull are you aware just what kind of a titanic battle last season would have been minus the Mercedes boys?
Ricciardo and Bottas trading wins for the championship, and Alonso and Vettel, the champions, fighting tooth and nail for third!
Patrick (@paeschli)
25th January 2015, 10:47
The whole engine noise debate is relevant for road cars apparently …
dimaka1256 (@dimaka1256)
25th January 2015, 10:56
One more time Happy Birthday to Dylan Lopez xD
just if 3 times is not enough
Wil-Liam (@wil-liam)
25th January 2015, 12:26
“Sebastian will see my tail lights on many occasions.”
More like the whole grid besides Hamilton is going to see your tail lights
Supremacy (@supremacy)
27th January 2015, 12:36
Hahaha, why pick on Vettel like that?
Nase (@)
25th January 2015, 14:16
CotdD by @Stefmeister nailed it. I loved the racing and would like to invite anyone who disagrees to watch any race from the 2013 reason, or from the Bridgestone years, as a reminder of how meh racing used to be in the recent past. And then a few races from 2002-2004, when engine, tyre and aerodynamic performance were peaking. Just to put the words “processional racing” into context.
My personal resumé as I’m about to begin my 20th season of socially problematic F1 viewing behaviour (well, not really, but you’re getting the idea …) is that I don’t think I’ve ever seen such constantly exciting and competitive racing before. I’ve liked pretty much everything. The engines, their deeper, growling sound, those noses that finally allowed some diversity.
The only downside was the constant complaining. Ecclestone started doing that even before the first engine was fired up, and by doing so damaged the reputation of F1 more than anyone else. Then there was Vettel, whose whining anticipated his dismal performances. And finally, Ferrari, who simply hadn’t managed to get proper work done, so they blamed the rules for it. If those three entities had shut up, this season would’ve been legendary.
Bobby (@f1bobby)
25th January 2015, 15:40
Come on Raikkonen! Plllleeeeeease outscore Vettel. That would make my year.
Bo
25th January 2015, 23:20
Hamilton Sr. says Lewis “the mercenary” will probably have the championship wrapped up by the half way point, so I guess it’s just cute to see Rosberg thinking he has a chance..
SauberS1 (@saubers1)
25th January 2015, 23:35
I do agree this.
Frank
26th January 2015, 3:22
“ Rosberg will see Hemilton teil lights.”
More like the whole grid besides Hamilton is going to see tail lights