Just_a_fan wrote:I think 2015 will be another 2007. I can see Mercedes imploding if Rosberg manages to best Hamilton on track occasionally. Then they'll end up losing points and someone else will sneak through to clinch it at the last race. Perhaps Kimi again or Seb as the Ferrari appears (at this stage) to be a solid car.
Also, if any of the other teams are closer to Mercedes' pace this year, I think Rosberg might struggle. We know Hamilton is good in wheel-to-wheel racing but there remains a question mark over Rosberg. It would probably benefit Hamilton if another team were closer to the Mercedes.
What will be interesting will be to see if Rosberg's approach to the race weekends changes in line with Hamilton's. If Rosberg concentrates on race pace a bit more then we could be in for some fireworks - and some other teams winning races when the Mercedes repeat Spa race after race!
You aren't dreaming right, when you say you can see Mercedes imploding? In the first year of HUGE ANTICIPATIONS, Merc took the brave and bold path of letting their drivers race, despite making such huge investments to secure their first Championship. In the process, they did went through a lot of agony of managing situations, which wouldn't have arise, had they taken the conservative approach of team orders. No one would have liked it, but nobody would have blamed them. At Spa, although it was amateurish to have had such an open outburst on Nico, they deserve credit for ensuring that, such a bad situation didn't went on to create any more problems. Now they far more experienced to still let their drivers race, but with a better framework around how they can race.
Looking at the situation from testing, no one is even remotely convinced that any other team can mix up in the race for championship, so it is natural that it would be a two horse race between Merc drivers. For any other driver to stand a chance of winning the Championship, THEY MUST WIN or atleast be consistently SECOND, only then there is a chance and looking at testing outcome, it is not even a remote possibility.
Those who understand sports psychology, a championship win would more than double up the confidence of a driver and more often than not, whenever the car has remained competitive in immediate next season, it was always the winner of previous year who makes it count once more. It was on display to see that Lewis was very strong in races and is a much better driver in tight situations and for those who argue, it's not video game that Nico can simply go back in winter break, look at what Lewis did in races, come back and beat him. We are talking about fundamental changes that he would need to his racing techniques to get better of lewis, which is not going to be an easy thing for Nico. On the other hand, Lewis lost out in the qualifying battle last year, more due his own mistakes and that wouldn't require any change in techniques. The other important fact is also that, Lewis doesn't need to start from pole to beat Nico and that is a very strong psychological booster for Lewis.
If it was not for reliability issues and and bad luck, the championship would have been over mid season. I am just echoing what Anthony Hamilton said.