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[CookinFlat6]

Do you think that eventually this year we'll stop hearing about how Hamilton can't save fuel, can't look after his tires? It's been so pathetic.

Still I Rise

Thats the real irony, Nico was as fast if not faster yesterday, and the difference between the 2 was RACECRAFT pure and simple, managing the car, tyres, fuel.

In fact I will go as far as saying racing intelligence was the difference. Lewis is stronger in racing intelligence full stop, he was just a bit too strong for Nico, not too fast, too inteligent especially with the defending and reovertaking. Nico did not have the guile to pass and stay ahead. We saw this with Button as well

[Nin-Chin]

If it weren't for the SC the gap would have been more than 6 seconds, Nico would have to make up 10secs on the softer tyre and if he couldn't pass with the SC it shows that Lewis would have won by a larger margin.

[Hammer278]

Damn he missed out on a grander grand chelum record, 1st in FP1, FP2, FP3, and Race. Not qual or fastest lap though.

Has Vettel managed 1st in all this?

[Nin-Chin]

Vettel was close in India 2012 he topped every FP and topped Q2 & Q3 and led every lap and won but Button got fastest lap and Maldonado was fastest in Q1.

[What's Burning?]

ESPNF1 Lewis Hamilton revealed he was convinced his chances of victory had vanished at the Bahrain Grand Prix after a safety car period undid all his hard work between pit stops.

Hamilton had a lead of about nine seconds over Rosberg when the safety car came out on Lap 41, meaning both Mercedes drivers pitted for fresh tyres for a sprint to the finish. Hamilton went on to the mediums and knew Rosberg was on the faster prime tyre, and he admitted he thought his chances of a second straight win were all but over.

"The safety car came out and I had a good enough lead, I think it would have been just enough without the safety car. I immediately thought 'shoot, he's on options, I'm on primes, it's going to take a miracle for me to hold him back'. There was six tenths in those tyres and he had so much grip behind me so it felt like one of the best calculated races of my career in terms of how I used my power and how I was position my car. He would catch me down the back straight and then he can stick with me in the last corner, he had about 10 or 12 K's on my with that DRS. It's all about knowing you have to kind of accept he's going to come past, but don't go to the inside and block. Move a bit to the inside and make him think you are and then move back, and accept he's going to come in but make sure you get back every time. I don't know how I did it every time but I did it!"

"I think we were both on the knife-edge and, when you're on the knife-edge, the risks increase. We were on the limit and maybe, next time, we'll come back a little bit [from there], but I was not letting it up today - he was doing 100, so I couldn't do 95. He drove fantastically well, he was fair and I like to think that I was too. It was close, but we didn't damage each others' race. The team put their trust in us and that was great."

Hamilton also said his mind was cast back to beating Rosberg during their first karting meet together, and how he feared his team-mate was going to get revenge on the biggest stage of all.

"I came to Italy for my second big, big race and Nico was already a superstar there," Hamilton said. "He was the lead driver for CRG [factory team] and through McLaren I was fortunate to get a top drive. Nico was leading the race, I was second, and I pushed him to get away from everyone else. Then, on the last lap, I overtook him and won the race, which was amazing for me!

"I think that was the start of our relationship and careers in racing, but I was thinking today that he was going to get me back - I'll have led the whole time and payback's here. I just did everything I could to keep him back."

[CookinFlat6]

Its amazing that educated comentators and ex drivers came out with drivel earlier on that intelligence with languages or understanding the technology could be any kind of trump card over pure racing intelligence - race craft.

The real irony is that it is possible that Nico is actually faster in sheer pace terms than Lewis on his day, but its the racing intelligence, the mindset, the hunger, the mental strength that Lewis edges it.

But then guys like Brundle would not recognise a race brain if it crawled up their bottom and hatched eggs. I mean Brundle never even won a single race in a long career partnered with people like Senna

[Hammer278]

There was six tenths in those tyres and he had so much grip behind me so it felt like one of the best calculated races of my career in terms of how I used my power and how I was position my car. He would catch me down the back straight and then he can stick with me in the last corner, he had about 10 or 12 K's on my with that DRS. It's all about knowing you have to kind of accept he's going to come past, but don't go to the inside and block. Move a bit to the inside and make him think you are and then move back, and accept he's going to come in but make sure you get back every time. I don't know how I did it every time but I did it!"

Mind blown...I didn't even notice this little trick. The guy has the next 3-4 corners worked out already, thinking about it if you go deep inside you're lost since the 2nd corner has such a pinch that the guy on the inside of the 2nd has to relent. With that little jink towards the inside, he was already psychologically 'preparing' Nico for the inside so the trap is set early on.

Nico made it work once though, but Lewis played his cards immediately in Corners 3/4 by going outside, and again the guy on the inside is pinched (exactly what Perez did effectively against Hulk) by the left hand kink before the braking zone into 5.

It takes serious talents to force serious talents to bring the best out of themselves though, so kudos to all the guys (teammates especially) who went wheel to wheel in Bahrain. It's what makes this sport the best for me.

[Roth]

From a technical POV what he's referring to isn't that special. A track to them isn't a corner followed by another corner, it's a series of corners with various consequences. It's like a snooker player compiling a break, he's three or four shots ahead. It's executing it under pressure that's the real skill, which is where Hamilton gains the advantage and the Rosbergs lose out.

[sagi58]

Great racing from Hamilton and Rosberg, this weekend!!
Was on the edge of my seat, that last few laps!!

Only one thing would have made it better, for me!!

Ferrari DNF to spare the disappointing results?

Wanna try again?

[cheekybru]

Lewis won with all the odds (pole, DRS, Saftey car + tires) in Nicos favour, It was defensive driving of the highest calibre

Nico will not live with Lewis this year without reliability rearing its ugly head

[NHcheese]

It would be interesting if Nico wins the championship due to finishing more races than Lewis. ie. He comes second when he races with Lewis and first if lewis has a technical fault.

[racechick]

It will be a pisser if they've fought tooth and nail like they did on Sunday, Lewis has eked out a lead of about thirty points and on the last race has an issue with his car and. Rosberg wins the race. He will lose the championship because of Bernie's stupid stupid points thing and I'd feel the same if Rosberg had eked the thirty points. I want to see drivers win by doing what they did on Sunday!!!not by tricks. ......is that double points thing still on? she checks after having vented

[bud]

Yeah I just hope the double points don't play a part in who is champion! Bernie has since said it is unfair... the guy needs to retire he is losing the plot!

[Roth]

It will be a pisser if they've fought tooth and nail like they did on Sunday, Lewis has eked out a lead of about thirty points and on the last race has an issue with his car and. Rosberg wins the race. He will lose the championship because of Bernie's stupid stupid points thing and I'd feel the same if Rosberg had eked the thirty points. I want to see drivers win by doing what they did on Sunday!!!not by tricks. ......is that double points thing still on? she checks after having vented

From a foolish man happy to ruin the sport's credibility with his daft ideas and ridicule it for its good ones. If it pans out as you've described I can't see anyone being happier than if things had played out normally. The possibility of more fake champions isn't something I relish.

[LewEngBridewell]

Yeah I just hope the double points don't play a part in who is champion! Bernie has since said it is unfair... the guy needs to retire he is losing the plot!