< Hamilton > Rosberg

[Bazile]

Yes , ok anything can happen in Motor racing .

However do you get the feeling that Rosberg is heading towards the 2014 F1 drivers championship ?

Hamilton does appear to be on the wrong side of mechanical problems - more so than Rosberg .

I only saw a bit of the race - did Mercedes change Hamilton's gear box , because of the problems Rosberg had in the previous race , or was it really damage in the crash ?

[jim360]

It was a pretty heavy crash so I wouldn't be surprised if the gearbox was changed because of that. That's what was said anyway.

All other things being equal Hamilton looks the better driver, but things aren't equal at the moment and credit to Nico for making the best of his "luck". Although, perhaps, you make your own luck.

[Zacs-Master]

Hamilton also had slight damage to the front spolier which affected tyre wear which in turn affected performance.

[Bazile]

It does show doesn't it how far ahead Mercedes are , when Hamilton can still secure third spot on the podium ; given where he started from - albeit a lot of it is also down to the talented racer Hamilton is

[shoota]

German team, German car, German driver - who do you think will win the championship?

[New Judge]

I'm not a great one for conspiracy theories but I'm beginning to believe that Mercedes would "prefer" a German driver (as Geramn as Nico is, anyway) to bring them the drivers' championship. Leaving aside Lewis's crash this weekend for a minute there have been niggling problems which have beset his car but not Nico's. Furthermore just about every pitstop made by Lewis lasts a second or more longer than Nico's. I know these margins are very fine but you would expect them to even out over a few races but they do not seem to. Certainly in the race at Silverstone one of Lewis's longer pitstops cost him a place or two on the track meaning more overtaking was necessary.

Lewis's crash in qualifying on Saturday was a heavy one and a lot of stuff had to be replaced on the car so I would not be at all surprised if the gearbox, if not damaged, was considered vulnerable

It's a shame if Mercedes are doing a "Ferrari" and showing favouritism towards one of their drivers at this stage of the season. At the moment the jury is out as far as I'm concerned but the next couple of races may see me alter my opinion.

[Bazile]

If it wasn't such a ridiculous sugestion - one might be forgiven for thinking that Mercedes are engineering ' faults ' in Hamilton's car . ( apart from the latest brake issue , cos it would be criminal for them to interfere with the brakes )

I'm sure Hamilton must have been given assurances that he would be given equal status within the team , before he signed on the dotted line .
As NJ says it would be a shame if Mercedes were now doing a ferrari

[shoota]

I think the situation might be different if the constructors championship were closer but Mercedes are so far ahead I can't see them being caught which gives them the luxury of being able to try and arrange this jingoistic PR coup.
I'm sure Hamilton will carry on fighting regardless and more power to his elbow.

[Bazile]

If the perception that Hamilton is not been giving equal status continues
( more importantly if that's the perception Hamilton gets ) then i wonder if he will think of leaving at the end of the season .

Having said that , where would he go ? - i'm sure he wouldn't want to go to a team who doesn't have a chance of winning a championship .
At the moment the top teams ( although this of course could change , who knows ) don't appear that they will have a vacancy