f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Nice English

Given your support for Cameron I'd say your judgement over whether someone is a dick or not is highly suspect. In fact your dick detector probably needs re-calibrating. Have a look in the mirror... what you see is the 100% setting OK?

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Have to say though..... he is getting right under Lewis's skin.

What chance any punishment for Rosberg? Zero to None I would say!

Kwik

iTrader: (10)

And in the opposite circumstances you can bet the book would be thrown at Lewis. Interesting that you say Nico is getting under Lewis' skin, I would say the confession would suggest he's having to resort to desperate tactics to fend Lewis off, more like Lewis is under Nico's.

I think Nico knows who the better driver is.

^Qwerty^

IMO, Mercedes lost control of their drivers a few weeks ago by not doing anything about Lewis ignoring team orders.

powerwrx

iTrader: (11)

a final 7 races for Nico at McLaren I think, replaced by Vettel who will be replaced by Alonso

P1Fanatic

I personally thought Nico overcooked it, got some oversteer and clipped Lewis. But only Nico knows if there was intent or not. Even if he says he did he might just be reacting to Lewis coming at him fists swinging (metaphorically) in the debrief.

I am a big Lewis fan but it was hard to listen to him **** & moan today after he was the one spanking it back to the pits too fast. Was clearly another damage limitation game after the puncture but let emotion take over.

Still a ways to go but mentally I think Lewis has lost it. Hope I am wrong.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Lewis's quote when he said after the race that he now doesn't really know how to approach the next race..... that's right where Rosberg wants him.

He said he was not prepared to back out to avoid an accident thereby placing the onus on Lewis to avoid it..... that comment is not the same as driving into someone deliberately although it is a fine line.... the fine line is, however, what will save him from any significant punishment AND crucially Lewis now knows that next time (and the time after) he either backs out or an accident will happen as Nico will not back down. Of course Nico doesn't need to back down as he has a 29 point lead.

The more I think about it the more I realise that Rosberg is one smart cookie if morally and ethically bankrupt!

I am a massive Lewis fan, but he thought a fair fight was on the cards.... he now knows, and too late of course, that it isn't.

Kwik

iTrader: (10)

Do you believe that though?, more than likely a bluff in itself.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Nope, Lewis isn't a mind games player... I think he's ruffled and why wouldn't he be and that's not a criticism of him at all... you won't find a bigger Hamilton fan than me.

To my mind it's more of a message to his team.... they have to act and do something decisive and whatever they do now will p1ss one of their drivers off. The trouble is one leads the chamionship by 29 points and in the harsh reality of commercial F1 that is the 'basket' they will place the majority of their eggs in I reckon!

Kwik

iTrader: (10)

Well if the rumours are true then apparently 'it won't go unpunished' and on Hamiltons Facebook page his statement is saying there's nothing he can do it's down to one of the bosses.
I can't see the team doing much to mess their chances up of a championship win. Only a fine.

I personally think the biggest thing to take from this is Nico was on pole and Lewis was quicker so Nico had to resort to unsportsmanlike behaviour rather thn relying on his talent.
I think Nico is riled, not that I don't expect Lewis react badly as well.

Carnut

I agree that one may have to leave at the end of the season but for you to say Rosberg was a bit of a surprise. I cant believe you are writing Hamilton off.

If you watched the race you would of seen how angry Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda were with Rosberg, not only them but the FANS as well. There was also a lot of people saying how Hamilton is the better driver, Coulthard being one which when push comes to shove will make the difference.

And lets not put the number 1 on Rosbergs car just yet, as long as neither of them are 25 points clear of one another the end race will decide the championship with the double points.

dpb

They're a load prima donna these drivers.

Make footballers look normal

Carnut

I would say Rosberg is the ruffled one, thats why he drove the way he did today.

As far as punishment, Rosberg is a racing driver and they will probably take some of the racer out of him, ie make him drive scared rather than free.

Carnut

Someone who actually watches f1, Alonso has been spotted having a talk with redbull and its not a friendly chat, nothing is by mistake, he knew exactly what he was doing. Vettel may also be looking to do a Hamilton and move on from his team that brought him his success.

Carnut

That 29 points is only worth 4 if Lewis wins the last race, that leaves 7 races to get 4 points, it will come down to the last race.

Carnut

Hamilton didn't ignore a team order, the order that he was given conflicts with other orders that the drivers are briefed with before every race.

Gear Head

iTrader: (2)

Yes he did ignore a team order, but rightly so.

Roaberg has let this get out of hand by not apologising on the podium. He hit Lewis, not the other way around. If he actually admitted to doing it deliberately (which I doubt he did) then he needs to be thrown out of the championship. That is the only option. But it won't happen.

Lewis has had some rotten luck this year and if he had not had all the technical issues since the very first race, he would be leading this championship easily.

Never liked the guy to be honest but he is one hell of a naturally gifted talent. He just lets his emotions get to him too much, which I think Nico is started to use to his advantage.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Well as confirmed by Toto he actually said he was not prepared to back out of it to avoid a collision to teach Hamilton a lesson which is not quite the same as doing it deliberately.... the lesson he was teaching him is as yet unknown, but I suspect it is as I stated... in future either Lewis moves over or they clash... with a 29 point lead and marginally less natural speed than your teammate it's a good psychological way to beat him.

If Mercedes do nothing of any gravitas as regards a reprimand then Lewis may as well start looking for another drive as his position in the team is untenable to be honest. You can paper over the cracks in a situation like this, but these are racing drivers and it will only end up in a clash like Suzuka 1989 or worse as I suspect when Lewis snaps it won't be with any measure of control much like Senna!

Oh and mark my words that Mercedes will do nothing to alter the points or championship .. those saying they could give Rosberg a one race ban.... do me a favour

Kwik

iTrader: (10)

From Hamiltons FB page....

"I'm gutted with the result - not just for my own Championship hopes but for the team, as we really should have had a one-two today. It's been a tough year for everyone and the whole team has been working so hard - every time we've been knocked down they've never given up. I didn't fully understand what had happened until I saw the replay just now, but I gave him plenty of space, took the corner like I usually do and suddenly felt a big hit from behind. There was nothing I could do about it and that was effectively my race over. I wanted to retire the car early - not because I was giving up, but because I couldn't catch the people in front of me and even with a safety car I don't think I would have been able to pass them. The car was quite badly damaged and my thoughts were to preserve the engine after the last one was destroyed in Hungary. What happens next is not my call - that's one for the bosses to make. But I'm now almost 30 points behind in the Championship so that's the main thing on my mind. It's a big gap and it will be hard to recover from here. That's tough to swallow - but ultimately it's just been one of those days."

Devildog

Mercedes is a works team. Nico made the team, and hence Mercedes look bad yesterday - not just by his actions but (in true Schumacher/Vettel style) by his lying denial afterwards when beng interviewed - All this "I don't know what happened - I need to watch it" crap. As Martin Brundle said afterwards, he doesnt need to watch it - he knew exactly what happened.

Toto and Nikki were pissed, not just because of the loss of a certain 1/2 yesterday, but by the potential for reputational damage. The last thing they want to see is a Mercedes driver getting boo'd or any negative publicity. They certainly don't want a Mercedes driver winning the world championship and being branded a cheat.

That would be unnnaceptable to Mercedes Benz as a whole.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

All that may be true, but they will still do nothing to affect the championship. As much as reputations etc. may be important winning is more important. At the end of the day Mercedes Benz want the F1 World Champions 2014 stickers for the back windows of their cars in the showroom... the last thing they are going to do is suspend a driver from a race and lose points because of it.

There is no way back now for the drivers. If Mercedes were to suspend Rosberg for a race then he will come back the race after a) with an even bigger point to prove and b) will be as mad as a cut snake. If they do nothing of any significance (which is what will happen) then Hamilton will be festering on this unfair treatment for the remainder of the season and I think like Senna will at some point snap over the 'unfairness' of it all... let's just hope when he snaps it isn't a situation where lives get put in danger.

I highly doubt Lewis and Nico will be with Mercedes in 2015.... one or the other will have to leave and I think it will be Lewis. If Mercedes try and paper over the cracks and keep them together it will be 1989 all over again!

To be honest if I were Lewis I would take a gamble and tell them this morning that either they take action or he will no longer drive for them! He has nothing to lose to be honest as his talent will open doors at other teams.

Kwik

iTrader: (10)

I don't know why you'd think Lewis would be the one to be pushed out, if it wasn't for several problems with the car and repeated back luck Lewis would be leading the championship by a fair margin. If I can see that then surely Mercedes can too, and I think Lauder was fighting Lewis' corner.
It's also a case of where would anyone go? With Alonso looking likely to go to red bull.

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

I agree. I think Lewis will go back to McLaren. Might seem a dumb idea but with input from Honda next year and back to the 'family' he grew up with, it could be just what he needs.
How can you expect a team to handle a disciplinary action involving their own championship winning driver? Are they really expected to shoot themselves in the foot by punishing Rosberg? I don't think it should be left up to Mercedes to deal with this in-house. If, as we are led to believe, Rosberg has admitted to a deliberate act of sabotage (what else is it?), then it's up to the race stewards and the FIA to deal with him as they have done with any similar event before, such as the 2007 "Stepneygate" affair at McLaren.
Although actions like the one executed by Rosberg are not unknown, for any driver to deliberately cause an accident is unforgivable in my view, let alone between team mates. Rosberg should at least have his points from Spa deducted, and I would also penalise him with a one race ban. The FIA needs to come down on this with a firm hand if they are to make a statement about how any similar future actions will be dealt with.
I think Button will be moved to a lesser team unless his season really turns around. Although he has more points than Magnusson, his driving is generally really lacklustre as shown by the way he got pushed around in the four car tustle in the closing laps of yesterday's race.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

Mathematics - Mercedes want the number 1 on their car and Rosberg will likely be the drivers champion given his 29 point lead and a reliable car!

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Why?
German team, German driver. What better combination would they want?

davyboy

British team, british employees, british engine.......german branding and german bosses.

f1_fan

iTrader: (9)

The thing Lewis needs to weigh up here is whether the Merc will still be the class of the field next year when Renault have had a chance to redesign their engine. If he thinks they will still be the best he maybe needs to suck it up this year and try and stay at Merc for another crack next year, but I think the decision will be out of his hands.

If it were me Red Bull would be where I'd be looking to go as if they can get the Renault engine up to speed I think they have the best car on the circuit.

Blue by You

iTrader: (23)

Is that why they play the German national anthem for the team when they win then?

davyboy

They can play whatever national anthem they like.

Engines and cars are built in Northamptonshire.

EddScott

Majority of people will view Merc F1 as German irrespective of where the cars are built.

Merc would choose Nico over Lewis for the German connection. Those that brought Lewis to Merc are no longer there.

McLaren are not likely to get Alonso unless they can guarantee he and Ron Dennis can work together. Offering Lewis to come "Home" and drive the McLaren/Honda partnership might be his best option if he chooses to leave Merc.

Vettel won't go to Ferrari until Alonso moves/retires so a Vettel/Bianci line up at Ferrari will have to wait.