Mercedes dominated the season with 19 wins from 21 races, while Max Verstappen and Jolyon Palmer enjoyed breakthrough years. Rio Haryanto, less soIn terms of extracting the most from himself, Nico Rosberg. No driver worked harder than the champion in 2016, both with his team and with himself – changing his diet, his sleeping patterns, his gloves, turning his mobile phone off for two weeks and emptying his mind of all distractions. Daniel Ricciardo was also superb and consistent. Everyone knows that Lewis Hamilton is the best driver out there, but apart from those technical setbacks he failed to always get the best from himself, was way off form in Singapore and took a long time to get over his...
Fallen champion could have been more gracious to Nico Rosberg but should not be censured for his tactics on the track in F1’s absorbing climaxThere was only one instance when Lewis Hamilton disappointed in Abu Dhabi as he lost his Formula One world championship to his Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg.It was not when he slowed down to back Rosberg into the jaws of the Ferrari and the Red Bull that followed them. It was not even when he twice ignored rather optimistic team orders to pick up his pace. Related: Nico Rosberg says Abu Dhabi GP was ‘definitely not the most enjoyable’ Continue reading...
Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg claimed his first world championship in Abu Dhabi after a season in which he proved his quality and enduranceNico Rosberg’s first Formula One championship was a classic victory for the diligent, dogged competitor over a more gifted opponent. It was the triumph of the retriever over the greyhound, the tortoise over the hare.Hamilton was complicit, in part, in his own downfall. He made five poor starts and there were other occasions when he was not quite “on it.” Rosberg also had more good fortune when it came to reliability. Related: F1 title decider: Abu Dhabi GP – live! Related: Nico Rosberg wins Singapore Grand Prix to lead F1 world championship Related: Lewis Hamilton under fire after...
Nico Rosberg’s assurance in recent races has persuaded many observers that he has what it takes to beat Lewis Hamilton to the Formula One Drivers’ ChampionshipThe heat haze, an almost overwhelming sultriness that had layers of torrid air shimmering above the freshly laid asphalt at the Sepang International Circuit, was not wholly responsible for the moving picture here on Friday.There is a growing perception – among experienced drivers no less – that Lewis Hamilton, winner of three world championships and among the most naturally quick of all Formula One drivers, can actually be beaten to this year’s world championship by the perennial nearly man who is Nico Rosberg. Related: Lewis Hamilton tops Nico Rosberg during Malaysian Grand Prix practice Related:...
The momentum has changed in Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s race for the drivers’ title, Ferrari and Vettel get lucky, while safety is again a problem that needs sorting after Sunday’s near-miss on the trackDespite having seen his early-season championship lead of 43 points turned to a 19-point deficit before Spa, then two points after Monza and now an eight-point lead again with his third win on the trot, Nico Rosberg remains absolutely steadfast in his refusal to be drawn into considering whether the title finally has his name on it this year. His weekend, bar biffing the barriers after locking up on ageing tyres in first practice, could not have gone better, his 200th grand prix yielding a first...