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[sagi58]

...if Lewis did end up about 4 seconds behind Rosberg on the same day (or even 1 day apart) I'd be inclined to think that Lewis might want to learn how to drive.

You'd what?? Stop it!! You're killing me!!

[spankyham]

... if Lewis did end up about 4 seconds behind Rosberg ... 1 day apart ... I'd be inclined to think that Lewis might want to learn how to drive.

Same car, same track, April 20th and April 21st 2013, Lewis was over 8 seconds per lap slower than Nico.

[Hammer278]

... if Lewis did end up about 4 seconds behind Rosberg ... 1 day apart ... I'd be inclined to think that Lewis might want to learn how to drive.

Same car, same track, April 20th and April 21st 2013, Lewis was over 8 seconds per lap slower than Nico.

The desperation in comparing such irrelevant circumstances..... I can't even recall what this is, was this a race weekend? Did Lewis have a broken gearbox? Did it rain on one day, and dry the next?

Anyway I don't want to risk this thread getting locked as well, so as you were...there're others here to debate with.

[spankyham]

... if Lewis did end up about 4 seconds behind Rosberg ... 1 day apart ... I'd be inclined to think that Lewis might want to learn how to drive.

Same car, same track, April 20th and April 21st 2013, Lewis was over 8 seconds per lap slower than Nico.

The desperation in comparing such irrelevant circumstances..... I can't even recall what this is, was this a race weekend? Did Lewis have a broken gearbox? Did it rain on one day, and dry the next?

No, Lewis didn't have a broken GB, in fact, he had a new one. No, there wasn't any rain involved.

The difference was Nico's time was set in Q and Lewis's time in the race. It is easy therefore to understand that fuel alone can make 8+ seconds difference. In testing there are far more variables. A 4 second difference in testing is meaningless unless you know all the variables.

[Hammer278]

Alright spanks, you win. I can't recall that instance at all, but if it did happen and it was purely due to setup and fuel loads which can lead to an 8 second difference...well that's a tremendous gap I would not expect.

From this test though, I have my theories and you have yours...let's just watch the story unfold.

[bud]

Of course lap times drop each day, more rubber on the track after every previous lap after lap.
Tracks evolve I thought this was common knowledge?

[NHcheese]

Good to see McLaren back near the front. What worries me is that, what if they had to develop extensively to get there and have little room for improvement.
Also. wouldn't mind merc being dominant. 1. red bull aren't. 2. the driver championship will be epic.

[spankyham]

Good to see McLaren back near the front. What worries me is that, what if they had to develop extensively to get there and have little room for improvement.
Also. wouldn't mind merc being dominant. 1. red bull aren't. 2. the driver championship will be epic.

Both Nico and Lewis are talented drivers. Lewis has an edge IMO, but on his day, Nico is almost unbeatable. If the Mercedes truly is the championship likely car, then the added incentive for Nico and Mercedes to become the first ever German car/German driver combination to win a WDC would be massive incentive for both team and driver.

[racechick]

Good to see McLaren back near the front. What worries me is that, what if they had to develop extensively to get there and have little room for improvement.
Also. wouldn't mind merc being dominant. 1. red bull aren't. 2. the driver championship will be epic.

Both Nico and Lewis are talented drivers. Lewis has an edge IMO, but on his day, Nico is almost unbeatable. If the Mercedes truly is the championship likely car, then the added incentive for Nico and Mercedes to become the first ever German car/German driver combination to win a WDC would be massive incentive for both team and driver.

But I don't expect there to be any favouritising on the part of Merc for that to happen. That's not how they're playing it. And both drivers are fair drivers too, neither would want it. So may the best man win.

[spankyham]

Good to see McLaren back near the front. What worries me is that, what if they had to develop extensively to get there and have little room for improvement.
Also. wouldn't mind merc being dominant. 1. red bull aren't. 2. the driver championship will be epic.

Both Nico and Lewis are talented drivers. Lewis has an edge IMO, but on his day, Nico is almost unbeatable. If the Mercedes truly is the championship likely car, then the added incentive for Nico and Mercedes to become the first ever German car/German driver combination to win a WDC would be massive incentive for both team and driver.

But I don't expect there to be any favouritising on the part of Merc for that to happen. That's not how they're playing it. And both drivers are fair drivers too, neither would want it. So may the best man win.

Both drivers know they have the opportunity to win the WDC this year. Personally I think Lewis shades Nico and so starts the year as a slight favourite from a skills perspective. But racing is never certain and things can happen beyond a drivers control - just ask Fernando about Romain at Spa. With the Mercedes clearly being a front runner this year Nico has the chance to be the first to pull off that German double.

[bud]

Nicos half Finnish and his car and engine are British made. It's not quite the same as the old silver arrows is it.

[spankyham]

Nicos half Finnish and his car and engine are British made. It's not quite the same as the old silver arrows is it.

First he has to beat Lewis, that's not going to be easy. But, if it did happen ... he would be the first German to win a WDC in an ostensibly German car - well, Mercedes at least is fairly German I believe

I think you are right about his Finnish side, but I believe, for F1 purposes he chose to race as German and that's the national anthem they play for him winning.

[What's Burning?]

Shades of Prost, Senna.

[racechick]

When I say 'may the best man win' I'm using it as a turn if phrase. It will be close between these two and luck may decide it. But I'm pretty certain Mercedes won't intervene to get the 'German ' double. Nico has chosen German as his nationality and I'm sure it will give him impetus in the fight. But Mercedes AMG Petronas ( the f1 team ) are based in Britain, many engineers and mechanics are British. Both toto and Lauda speak highly of Lewis and I see no signs of him being isolated in a German team. Besides that, Nico and Lewis are friends, have been for years. Even if it were a possibility to engineer an advantage for himself by playing the 'German' card, I don't believe Nico would. Some drivers in that situation almost certainly would, but I don't think Nico would. I have huge respect for Nico and how he goes about his business.
I believe Lewis has the edge in race raft and speed, and that is born out by their results in previous categories, but who knows in the fickle world of f1 how things will turn out.

If either of these guys win it will be a huge marketing coup for Mercedes( not just the f1 team) and I believe the marketing gain will be just as great if not greater if it's Lewis that wins.

[spankyham]

When I say 'may the best man win' I'm using it as a turn if phrase. It will be close between these two and luck may decide it. But I'm pretty certain Mercedes won't intervene to get the 'German ' double. Nico has chosen German as his nationality and I'm sure it will give him impetus in the fight. But Mercedes AMG Petronas ( the f1 team ) are based in Britain, many engineers and mechanics are British. Both toto and Lauda speak highly of Lewis and I see no signs of him being isolated in a German team. Besides that, Nico and Lewis are friends, have been for years. Even if it were a possibility to engineer an advantage for himself by playing the 'German' card, I don't believe Nico would. Some drivers in that situation almost certainly would, but I don't think Nico would. I have huge respect for Nico and how he goes about his business.
I believe Lewis has the edge in race raft and speed, and that is born out by their results in previous categories, but who knows in the fickle world of f1 how things will turn out.

If either of these guys win it will be a huge marketing coup for Mercedes( not just the f1 team) and I believe the marketing gain will be just as great if not greater if it's Lewis that wins.

I think you're fearing things there just is no evidence of. Mercedes have not shown anything that would indicate that. Having said that, if Lewis was clearly in the lead and we were down to the last few races, and Ferrari or Red Bull were in a position to threaten for that title, I'm sure Mercedes would rightfully use team orders to ensure the team gets the best result to secure the title. If that meant telling Nico to hold position then that's what they would quite rightfully do.