Nico Rosberg

[Graz]

Congrats to Nico, he scored the most points, made the most of his equipment and is a deserved champ.

The 'is he deserving' nonsense in the media is nauseating.

Who is to say Hamilton was more deserving? I'd have Ricciardo and in particular Max ahead of Hamilton in the same cars...

So the moral champion of 2016 is....Max V or Danny Ric.

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally Posted by Graz

The 'is he deserving' nonsense in the media is nauseating.

Totally agree. There was a very mean-spirited set of comments by a Radio 5 Live journalist yesterday within hours of Nico winning saying that he didn't deserve it, wasn't the best driver, had been lucky and all that sort of BS. Nico turned in a fast, consistent, competitive, mature season and is a worthy champion; for what it's worth, I also think he's a great ambassador for the sport, probably the best now Jenson has stepped aside. We're lucky to have him, and he's one of the best drivers on the grid. Is he the best? Probably not. But nor were Hill, or Surtees, or Brabham, or Scheckter, or Mansell, or Villeneuve. But they were among the best, and made the most of the opportunities presented to them. That's motor racing.

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

Totally agree. There was a very mean-spirited set of comments by a Radio 5 Live journalist yesterday within hours of Nico winning saying that he didn't deserve it, wasn't the best driver, had been lucky and all that sort of BS. Nico turned in a fast, consistent, competitive, mature season and is a worthy champion; for what it's worth, I also think he's a great ambassador for the sport, probably the best now Jenson has stepped aside. We're lucky to have him, and he's one of the best drivers on the grid. Is he the best? Probably not. But nor were Hill, or Surtees, or Brabham, or Scheckter, or Mansell, or Villeneuve. But they were among the best, and made the most of the opportunities presented to them. That's motor racing.

Absolutely spot on, we all know Lewis would probably beat Nico over a season nine times out of ten, this was arguably his best chance and he grabbed it. Is he the best driver on the grid, nowhere near, but he is the world champ and a deserving one at that.

[GT6]

Well Nico won 9 races and the championship so yes he deserved it, Did not hear him wine about anything last year when he had problems and hamilton had all the luck. Hamilton has 3 championships and a couple of those have been fortunate particularly when Massa missed out, if he wants to be remembered it should be about his skill at driving which he has an abundance but his behaviour will often mean he is remembered for that and that is a shame

[BSchneiderFan]

Originally Posted by cds_uk

Absolutely spot on, we all know Lewis would probably beat Nico over a season nine times out of ten, this was arguably his best chance and he grabbed it. Is he the best driver on the grid, nowhere near, but he is the world champ and a deserving one at that.

I agree with your sentiment, as you were kind enough to agree with mine, but I don't think Rosberg is "nowhere near" the best driver on the grid. I reckon you've got Hamilton, Vettel and Verstappen, you've got Alonso and Räikkönen, both of whom may have passed their peaks, and then Rosberg and Ricciardo are pretty damned close. I don't think it's a huge gulf.

[S griffin]

I am glad for him. The parallels between his and Damon's title 20 season earlier are staggering. This was best opportunity he has yet and he's taken it and delivered. Well done indeed

[chunterer]

The thing rhat stood out most for me wasn't what Hamilton didn't but what Rosberg did do:

"Nico it's vital you overtake Verstappen now"

He did it straight away in what was quite a risky move.

I tbink that was what secured him the title yesterday. Top notch.

[Richard C]

Originally Posted by chunterer

The thing rhat stood out most for me wasn't what Hamilton didn't but what Rosberg did do:

"Nico it's vital you overtake Verstappen now"

He did it straight away in what was quite a risky move.

I tbink that was what secured him the title yesterday. Top notch.

I made a similar point earlier (in race thread). It was a risky (and good) move and on a driver who might be... dangerous to fight with in a corner. Plus he fought back Vettel's one hard attempt at a pass. I don't think Rosberg played it safe on Sunday.

Richard

[ASCII Man]

BBC's cheerleading for Lewis is pretty sickening, to be honest.
Parading 'He'll never be as good as our Lewis' kind of headlines around is just the lowest kind of reporting I've seen in my life.
It certainly wouldn't go amiss on a north korean news website if the people there even had computers.

Someone needs to slap that Benson fellow a few times for being a complete ******.

[cds_uk]

Originally Posted by ASCII Man

BBC's cheerleading for Lewis is pretty sickening, to be honest.
Parading 'He'll never be as good as our Lewis' kind of headlines around is just the lowest kind of reporting I've seen in my life.
It certainly wouldn't go amiss on a north korean news website if the people there even had computers.

Someone needs to slap that Benson fellow a few times for being a complete ******.

Whilst i agree the headline is very "sensational" the actual article itself is quite measured i thought.

[gert]

Originally Posted by chunterer

The thing rhat stood out most for me wasn't what Hamilton didn't but what Rosberg did do:

"Nico it's vital you overtake Verstappen now"

He did it straight away in what was quite a risky move.

I tbink that was what secured him the title yesterday. Top notch.

Spot on. Even Horner acknowledges that.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...rstappen-brave

[spider]

Originally Posted by gert

Spot on. Even Horner acknowledges that.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report...rstappen-brave

Good for Horner to point that out.

Brilliant, intelligent drive under supreme stress. Didn't panic / flat-spot his tyres, didn't lose a wing, overtook well too. Can you imagine how Seb would have reacted had his teammate been doing the same? Or Lewis? Or Fernando? Or, er...Max?

[BSchneiderFan]

I see Lewis has had to pull out of the Pirelli rest because he's unwell. I wonder if he's told the doctor not to interfere and just to let him get on with it?

[Mike Harte]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

I see Lewis has had to pull out of the Pirelli rest because he's unwell. I wonder if he's told the doctor not to interfere and just to let him get on with it?

That's now the third test that he has pulled out of this year. Poor diddums! That's pretty well at some point at each test.

Now, maybe, people will realise that he doesn't care about the team; it's all about him.

[chillibowl]

Nico has certainly looked to be the better prepared, less distracted, more focused of the two and seems to have been since the end of last season.

And it paid off. A testament to hard work trumping natural talent.

And in a weird way, LH's tactics (which I'm totally fine with) only served to highlight that NR won the title despite his team mate and not because of him.

I would think that this is the ture moral victory and he goes into next year with the advantage despite LH's string of victories to end this year.

[GT6]

Well we will just have to see who is Nico's team mate next year, Lewis is not a happy bunny at the moment and with all the rumours going he may jump ship again, would be nice to see him and vettel change places

[newlaprecord]

Originally Posted by BSchneiderFan

I see Lewis has had to pull out of the Pirelli rest because he's unwell. I wonder if he's told the doctor not to interfere and just to let him get on with it?

Ive heard he has onset dungivaphucitis

[newlaprecord]

Originally Posted by GT6

Well we will just have to see who is Nico's team mate next year, Lewis is not a happy bunny at the moment and with all the rumours going he may jump ship again, would be nice to see him and vettel change places

Actually, it would be even nicer if Lewis and Kimi swaped. Vettel vs Hamilton would be nothing short of epic.

[GT6]

Originally Posted by newlaprecord

Actually, it would be even nicer if Lewis and Kimi swaped. Vettel vs Hamilton would be nothing short of epic.

it would be a interesting yes but i think they would be at each others throats within days

[S griffin]

That move Nico did on Max was a very calculated risk. Use the overtake button, brake late, then power past on the next straight

[chunterer]

Originally Posted by S griffin

That move Nico did on Max was a very calculated risk. Use the overtake button, brake late, then power past on the next straight

And hope Max doesn't bang wheels fighting the corner or into the next....

[wnut]

Originally Posted by GT6

Well we will just have to see who is Nico's team mate next year, Lewis is not a happy bunny at the moment and with all the rumours going he may jump ship again, would be nice to see him and vettel change places

Anywhere but Mercedes, would seem to be second place, and then there is the strong possibility that nobody would in fact want the renowned team player Mr Hamilton in their team.

[bauble]

Originally Posted by wnut

Anywhere but Mercedes, would seem to be second place, and then there is the strong possibility that nobody would in fact want the renowned team player Mr Hamilton in their team.

Maybe Sauber, and then he could demonstrate just how good he is

[VIVA GT]

Originally Posted by bauble

Maybe Sauber, and then he could demonstrate just how good he is

Surely Baub, you don't want a Swiss team dominating everything next year?

[S griffin]

But who would partner Nico at Merc? Kimi?