drunkf1fan wrote:Yeah, it's always the same with Rosberg, "if I'd qualified ahead I'd have won." He said it constantly last year and multiple times this year. Where was it he was 0.007 or something behind pole, he was saying he lost the win by that much completely ignoring the race. Since Hamilton has been there Hamilton has come from behind Rosberg over and over again, Rosberg has rarely if ever done so and not since start of 2014.
AS you say and I didn't know Hamilton had also said, if someone suddenly goes from 1.5 to 0.5 seconds behind you these things called wing mirrors, as well as the delta shown to guy behind would let him know to turn the engine up. His team telling him isn't required. Hamilton was fairly comfortable and pulled out a comfortable gap before the pitstops and a gap at the end.
Since the start of 2014 it's painfully obvious. If Hamilton has a gap Rosberg occasionally closes it but magically ends up 1-2 seconds behind Hamilton, with Hamilton pulling out a gap when he needs one, before pitstops basically. Hamilton is managing the race and after slowing down he sits Rosberg in his dirty hotter and just manages Rosberg entirely. In the other position with Rosberg ahead Hamilton closes easily, gets within a second, usually passes Rosberg then either pulls out a gap or manages Rosberg. Rosberg has only managed to maintain a lead when starting ahead if Hamilton has a problem or it's a specific and hard to pass at track. Monaco, Barca, Brazil, couple of others.
Very good point!
This must be very annoying for Rosberg and Toto. Rosbeg because he has the same car and can react by copying him. For Toto Hamilton is "damaging" Rosberg's car by doing this.
Hamilton has weighed the pros and cons of leading by a small margin Versus pulling off into the distance and it seems in his mind he has worked it out like this:
Scenario #1: Team mate is close on pace OR cars pace is limited by fuel/tyres/brakes
Tactic A: Maintain a 2 second gap during non-critical laps if possible. Safe distance. Dirty air will harm teammate's car.
Tactic B: Pull out a 4 second gap during pit-stop window if possible. Safety cushion for bad pit stop.
Tactic C: Lower gap down to 1.5 to 2 seconds to create REALLY dirty air for teammate but keeping him out of DRS.
Scario #2: Team mate is on pace No car limits
Tactic A: If trailing, conserve tyres stay out of dirty air, try to close gap and apply pressure at weak points of teammate
Tactic B: Conseve tyres for "Hammer time" at pit window
Tactic C: If leading, conserve tyres in 1st stint keeping gap at 2 seconds, play to strong points. Save fuel for a final stint blitz.
Scenario #3: Team mate is down on pace
Tactic A: Blitz him! 20 second gap (example Monaco)
Tactic B: Pull out a 6 second gap and manage fuel and tyres just in case.
Scenario #4: Team mate is faster no limitations
Tactic A: Push hard and apply pressure at Teammate weak points if possible - try alternative strategy
Tactic B: Push hard and pray to the Gods (damage limitation).
Tactic C: If team mate is behind ... prepare for battle..
Scenario #5: Team mate is faster with fuel and tyre limits.
Tactic A: Play to strengths.. Conserve fuel by lifting and coasting.. nurse tyres and hope to catch Team mate in the last stint
Tactic B: If set up is really bad... just call it a day and limit damage.
