Rosberg replacement
Discussion
Notwithstanding contractuals I wonder who would partner Hamilton should Rosberg bail out?
He does seem a little deflated and so I wonder who merc might choose should they need a replacement..?
A young up n coming driver, a non threat to Hamilton, an ex world champ, a German, an Asian driver.....?
Any thoughts?
He does seem a little deflated and so I wonder who merc might choose should they need a replacement..?
A young up n coming driver, a non threat to Hamilton, an ex world champ, a German, an Asian driver.....?
Any thoughts?
Rosberg isn't a "weak" driver by any stretch of the imagination. He's extremely good, he's just up against one of the best around at the peak of his career.
I very much doubt that Merc would want to replace him, he's a very safe pair of hands and on the days when their superstar doesn't win, Rosberg is generally there to ensure they still get top spot.
Whether Rosberg can handle starting to get beaten on a regular basis and not being able to get on terms with Hamilton at the moment, is a different matter, so should he walk, I imagine that either Wehrlein or another quick driver would be shuffled in. Hulkenberg is a good shout for a replacement. He's fast and a safe, experienced pair of hands whilst also having the benefit of being German.
I very much doubt Rosberg is going anywhere though!
I very much doubt that Merc would want to replace him, he's a very safe pair of hands and on the days when their superstar doesn't win, Rosberg is generally there to ensure they still get top spot.
Whether Rosberg can handle starting to get beaten on a regular basis and not being able to get on terms with Hamilton at the moment, is a different matter, so should he walk, I imagine that either Wehrlein or another quick driver would be shuffled in. Hulkenberg is a good shout for a replacement. He's fast and a safe, experienced pair of hands whilst also having the benefit of being German.
I very much doubt Rosberg is going anywhere though!
krisdelta said:
Merc would want the driver who could secure them the most points - so Vettel or Alonso? From a team perspective, you'd be mad to have a weak driver over a strong one. More points = more cash.
Its well known that Alonso wants that seat, but if it were to happen I can't see Mercedes bowing to his ridiculous salary demands. bakerstreet said:
krisdelta said:
Merc would want the driver who could secure them the most points - so Vettel or Alonso? From a team perspective, you'd be mad to have a weak driver over a strong one. More points = more cash.
Its well known that Alonso wants that seat, but if it were to happen I can't see Mercedes bowing to his ridiculous salary demands. 
I can't see why Rosberg would leave assuming the Mercedes retains its competitive position. Although a turn in the red cars and a bumper pay day are always pretty attractive. If he did leave I would suppose it will be at the end of his current contract, which I think ends after the 2017 season. As things appear to be shaping up that could mean Pascal Wehrlein has two seasons experience with Manor and might be up to it. One thing's for sure p. Mercedes wouldn't be short of candidates to take on partnering with Lewis.
There is no reason for Rosberg to leave Mercedes and he wont get a better chance to win in F1; where would he go to? There is also no reason for Merc to sack him as they are unlikely to get a better driver that slots into the team as well as he does. Realistically Rosberg isn't a bad driver at all, OK he isn't quite as good as Hamilton but without Lewis in the team he would be comfortably winning the WDC.
He is a similar level to Jenson, Massa and Kimi; experienced, better than average and unbeatable on his day..... but can't quite live up to the very best regularly. There is no shame in that and at Monza he never really had a fair chance due to the engine situation.
Realistic alternatives for Mercedes would presumably be Bottas, Hulk or Verstappen? - Non would do any better than Rosberg in the short term. Alonso is too divisive and aging too.
edit: Plus didn't Rosberg extend his contract until the end of 2017 recently?
He is a similar level to Jenson, Massa and Kimi; experienced, better than average and unbeatable on his day..... but can't quite live up to the very best regularly. There is no shame in that and at Monza he never really had a fair chance due to the engine situation.
Realistic alternatives for Mercedes would presumably be Bottas, Hulk or Verstappen? - Non would do any better than Rosberg in the short term. Alonso is too divisive and aging too.
edit: Plus didn't Rosberg extend his contract until the end of 2017 recently?
Edited by VolvoT5 on Tuesday 8th September 21:16
Have to say I feel a bit sorry for Nico really. He has been with that team for ages, stuck with it during the rough times but is now just being beaten by someone a little better.... Media will stick the boot in and write off Rosberg as not very good but I think he is perfectly capable of a WDC win as he demonstrated last year...... just this year things have just run away from him a bit.
Realistically only Vettel or Alonso in the same car could give Hamilton a run for his money this year and I think it is highly unlikely we would see 2 of those 3 in the same team ever again.
Realistically only Vettel or Alonso in the same car could give Hamilton a run for his money this year and I think it is highly unlikely we would see 2 of those 3 in the same team ever again.
VolvoT5 said:
Have to say I feel a bit sorry for Nico really. He has been with that team for ages, stuck with it during the rough times but is now just being beaten by someone a little better.... Media will stick the boot in and write off Rosberg as not very good but I think he is perfectly capable of a WDC win as he demonstrated last year...... just this year things have just run away from him a bit.
Realistically only Vettel or Alonso in the same car could give Hamilton a run for his money this year and I think it is highly unlikely we would see 2 of those 3 in the same team ever again.
Funny how things change in F1. A few years back people were talking about Professor Nico, how clever he was (“he can speak nineteen languages you know…”), and how he’d spank the thick lad from the council estate, who was making a stupid move from McLaren. It’s a different view now.Realistically only Vettel or Alonso in the same car could give Hamilton a run for his money this year and I think it is highly unlikely we would see 2 of those 3 in the same team ever again.
But fundamentally nothing’s altered; Nico was/is/will be a stunningly fast race driver, who would’ve been WDC if it hadn’t been for Hamilton, who has always been quicker. His real problem is that Hamilton’s even faster now than he was when he won his first WDC, and simply doesn’t make mistakes like he used to. Nico’s a lot like Andy Murray, who would be World No 1 if only Djokovic could bugger off. David Coulthard wrote a very honest piece along these lines this week of how he was always just that tiny bit slower than Mika, no matter what he did to make up the difference.
I can’t see any reason for any of the parties to seek change. Mercedes would not score any more wins or 2nds with any other driver (arguably fewer), and from Lewis’ POV, a really really good number 2 is a lot better than, say, Alonso, who seems to poison the atmosphere wherever he goes. Also from Nico’s viewpoint, perhaps he thinks he can get an edge with next year’s car; he certainly won’t get it from another team.
Nico will finish his career with applause and respect, but probably not with a WDC unless, like Button, he finds himself in a right-place, right-time technological tectonic shift.
Nico was good enough to hold his own against (an admittedly past his peak) Schumacher and he kept Lewis honest in 2013, the trouble is he’s not raised his game in line with his team mate this year. There’s no shame in that, even the most ardent Hamilton hater has to acknowledge that he’s just on another planet at the moment.
Rosberg in 2015 reminds me of Berger in 1990- a proven race winner and top notch driver who deserves their place in the best team on the grid, they just happen to have a teammate who is currently at the top of their game.
Rosberg in 2015 reminds me of Berger in 1990- a proven race winner and top notch driver who deserves their place in the best team on the grid, they just happen to have a teammate who is currently at the top of their game.
Obvious I know but there can only be one winner and it isn't looking to me like Rosberg will threaten Lewis any time soon, this year or next. The gap has widened now and with baby Rosberg in the picture I fear Nico may have had his best chance already. Still, commercially he is certainly good enough to warrant his place, and does a good job in securing good points towards the constructors championship.
If I were Toto I would certainly keep my eye on Bottas, to me he was due a change and whilst I like Kimi I cant help but think Bottas would have challenged Vettel more consistently. But that isn't going to happen next year, so we will have to hope that Ferrari are able to mount a serious challenge in 2016 otherwise it could be another Mercedes walk over.
If I were Toto I would certainly keep my eye on Bottas, to me he was due a change and whilst I like Kimi I cant help but think Bottas would have challenged Vettel more consistently. But that isn't going to happen next year, so we will have to hope that Ferrari are able to mount a serious challenge in 2016 otherwise it could be another Mercedes walk over.
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