Talk Morgan Forums Community Vehicle Talk (non-Morgan) What do we think about Nico??

We can only speculate about the real reasons for his decision. He clearly is a more balanced and far more intelligent individual than Hamilton and isnt addicted to the black rap star life style in the same way. Maybe he has made enough money and wants to do something different with his life. Maybe he doesnt like living in a plane and away from his family. Maybe he doesnt like the unpleasant atmosphere at Merc F1.

My suspicion is that Mercedes would have been happier if it had been Hamilton who walked - Rosberg would have been a serial world champion had that happened and had Mercedes maintained their supremacy. And a better publicity image for Daimler as well. Sure Hamilton is a tiny bit faster, usually around one tenth of one percent. But with a car as dominant as the Merc, that little bit doesnt really matter. Almost any current F1 driver would win in the Merc

It begs the question as to which F1 champions won without the aid of the best car?

A few. Last is Kimi Raikkonen in 2007, he got the better of the fratricide battle at McLaren, clearly the better car that year.

Another is Rosberg (Keke), in 1982. Ferrari had a dominant car but Villeneuve died mid season and Pironi had a career ending crash later.

I supppse that if you go back a little further in time you'll find more. Reliability played an even bigger part in the outcome of championships, so the best car might not be the fastest, but the strongest back then.

There are rule changes next year pushing aerodynamics as a possible deciding factor. It will be interesting to see who comes out best. The variations in tracks will mean different aero requirements. Perhaps engines will become less dominant other than for reliability?
I wonder if the 6 wheel car will be an option?

What a 2xm3w good thinking Phill.

Latest out of Brazil is that Massa is coming out of retirement and back to Williams releasing Bottas to Mercedes, the commonality of engines would have made it an easy deal for Wolff.

Yep that's the way it's looking. I wish it was Alonzo who was going up against Lewis as that would really make a contest of it both on and off the track. But Bottas is no slouch either. Looking forward to a good season especially if Red Bull can extract a bit more speed.

Yes that was the match I was hoping for they would have worked well. As you say Bottas has put together some good displays of his talent too so lets look forward to another entertaining year.

Bottas has a spine so I trust he will fair well in the childish mind games but at the same time seems quite refined, I look forward to that if it happens.

I would have loved to see "The Ice Man" alongside the "Sulky Git" that would have made for some interesting post race interviews.