The two characters that have set the
Formula One season alight are ideally drawn for dramatic effect:
Englishman Lewis Hamilton, the fastest driver of his generation yet
emotionally vulnerable, against the German Nico Rosberg, only a fraction
slower but ice cool in his calculation.
The stewards cleared Rosberg of deliberately thwarting Hamilton’s final qualifying lap at the Monaco Grand Prix by running off the track at Mirabeau corner. Rosberg started from pole, won the race and took the championship lead off Hamilton.
But if Rosberg did know what he was doing — as many, though not all, paddock observers believe — it was a crime perpetrated with so much forethought and so immaculately executed that it is hard not to equate Rosberg to the sort of villain who strokes a white cat on his lap.
The stewards cleared Rosberg of deliberately thwarting Hamilton’s final qualifying lap at the Monaco Grand Prix by running off the track at Mirabeau corner. Rosberg started from pole, won the race and took the championship lead off Hamilton.
But if Rosberg did know what he was doing — as many, though not all, paddock observers believe — it was a crime perpetrated with so much forethought and so immaculately executed that it is hard not to equate Rosberg to the sort of villain who strokes a white cat on his lap.
Frosty: Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's relations were strained at a controversial Monaco Grand Prix
His answers to the press, and
seemingly to the stewards, were more coolly convincing than Michael
Schumacher’s in similar circumstances, when he ‘parked’ on the racing
line in qualifying eight years ago to block Fernando Alonso’s crack at
pole. Rosberg’s father, Keke, who was world champion in 1982, famously
called Schumacher ‘a cheap cheat’ for his skulduggery.
Even more impressively, Rosberg refused to be ruffled by Hamilton’s simmering anger at press conferences after qualifying and after the race. He said calmly that he and Hamilton are friends; Hamilton said emphatically they weren’t.
It may have irked Hamilton that his insinuations were met with serene indifference. Fire, in this instance, could not melt ice.
They managed not to speak on the night of the race. Rosberg and his fiancee, Vivian, left the gala dinner on Sunday to arrive at the Amber Lounge at 1.15am to party with about 20 friends and 15 mechanics. They were briefly joined by Bayern Munich footballer David Alaba and ended the celebrations at breakfast time on the terrace at Le Meridien.
Hamilton was also at the Amber Lounge, but his table was a diplomatically long way from Rosberg’s.
Even more impressively, Rosberg refused to be ruffled by Hamilton’s simmering anger at press conferences after qualifying and after the race. He said calmly that he and Hamilton are friends; Hamilton said emphatically they weren’t.
It may have irked Hamilton that his insinuations were met with serene indifference. Fire, in this instance, could not melt ice.
They managed not to speak on the night of the race. Rosberg and his fiancee, Vivian, left the gala dinner on Sunday to arrive at the Amber Lounge at 1.15am to party with about 20 friends and 15 mechanics. They were briefly joined by Bayern Munich footballer David Alaba and ended the celebrations at breakfast time on the terrace at Le Meridien.
Hamilton was also at the Amber Lounge, but his table was a diplomatically long way from Rosberg’s.
Blanked: Hamilton and Rosberg did not talk to or look at each other on the podium in Monte Carlo
Contract: Rosberg leapfrogged Hamilton to the top of the standings after his win in Monaco
Rosberg
clearly has a steeliness that belies the coiffured blond locks that won
him the nickname Britney, as in Spears, from his fellow drivers. His
manner with those of us he deals with on a professional basis is cordial
but not matey. He is self-assured and self-possessed.
Interviewing him earlier in the season in the back of his Mercedes, I was twiddling with a pen and it snapped in my hand. He said: ‘Are you nervous?’ It seemed a typical Rosberg comment, a half-joke but one with a point.
On that Thursday, the first of the four-day grand prix weekend, he arrived early at the track. His driver parked up in an empty car park and Rosberg started work with his engineers, knowing his cerebral approach — he turned down a place to study engineering at Imperial College — offers the best, possibly the only, way to beat Hamilton to the title.
Interviewing him earlier in the season in the back of his Mercedes, I was twiddling with a pen and it snapped in my hand. He said: ‘Are you nervous?’ It seemed a typical Rosberg comment, a half-joke but one with a point.
On that Thursday, the first of the four-day grand prix weekend, he arrived early at the track. His driver parked up in an empty car park and Rosberg started work with his engineers, knowing his cerebral approach — he turned down a place to study engineering at Imperial College — offers the best, possibly the only, way to beat Hamilton to the title.
Feud: Hamilton was unhappy at the way Rosberg achieved his pole position on Saturday
Mercedes
chairman Niki Lauda admitted as much, seeing in Rosberg’s attention to
detail something of his own approach. Hamilton he described as quicker
and more naturally gifted.
Ah, Hamilton. He is brilliant yet brittle. That is the view of a former karting rival of Hamilton and Rosberg, Dutchman Giedo van der Garde, formerly of Caterham but now a test driver at Sauber. He has placed a bet on Rosberg winning the title on the basis the German has the mental fortitude that Hamilton lacks.
Bernie Ecclestone, possibly the best judge of a driver, said at the start of the season that he thought Rosberg would prevail.
But Hamilton’s former McLaren team-mate, Jenson Button, has backed his fellow Briton to recover for the next race in Montreal a week on Sunday. Speaking from experience, he said: ‘Lewis would arrive at the next race after an upset very quiet, then go out and blitz it. He will do the same in Canada — he will probably be untouchable in Canada.’
Ah, Hamilton. He is brilliant yet brittle. That is the view of a former karting rival of Hamilton and Rosberg, Dutchman Giedo van der Garde, formerly of Caterham but now a test driver at Sauber. He has placed a bet on Rosberg winning the title on the basis the German has the mental fortitude that Hamilton lacks.
Bernie Ecclestone, possibly the best judge of a driver, said at the start of the season that he thought Rosberg would prevail.
But Hamilton’s former McLaren team-mate, Jenson Button, has backed his fellow Briton to recover for the next race in Montreal a week on Sunday. Speaking from experience, he said: ‘Lewis would arrive at the next race after an upset very quiet, then go out and blitz it. He will do the same in Canada — he will probably be untouchable in Canada.’
Upset: During an interview after the race, Hamilton said he and Nico are not friends
An
important factor in deciding who wins the title is how Hamilton will
fare without his father Anthony’s daily presence. He has not won a title
at any level without him as his manager. He was the one person who
would fight for his son against the world.
In Anthony’s absence, Mercedes must make Lewis feel loved if he is to perform at his best. That is not easy because when they put their two drivers on different strategies, and Hamilton perceives Rosberg’s is the better one, his frustrations — paranoia even — could devour him.
The other control Anthony had over his son was in ensuring he was not distracted by off-track glamour: rappers, life in LA, the red carpet. Perhaps those factors have provided balance to Hamilton’s life, made him more rounded and worldly, but there remains the possibility that he could be drawn too often to those sirens.
Much, therefore, falls on Lauda, whose words after the race were refreshing. He knows he cannot stop his drivers feuding — there is too much at stake for that — but he can draw a line which they must not cross. He has said they must be just about civil towards each other and not drive each other off the track.
In Anthony’s absence, Mercedes must make Lewis feel loved if he is to perform at his best. That is not easy because when they put their two drivers on different strategies, and Hamilton perceives Rosberg’s is the better one, his frustrations — paranoia even — could devour him.
The other control Anthony had over his son was in ensuring he was not distracted by off-track glamour: rappers, life in LA, the red carpet. Perhaps those factors have provided balance to Hamilton’s life, made him more rounded and worldly, but there remains the possibility that he could be drawn too often to those sirens.
Much, therefore, falls on Lauda, whose words after the race were refreshing. He knows he cannot stop his drivers feuding — there is too much at stake for that — but he can draw a line which they must not cross. He has said they must be just about civil towards each other and not drive each other off the track.
Thirsty work: The Brit has won four of the six races this season, but still trails Rosberg in the drivers' standings
Flashback: Hamilton and Rosberg together during their younger days
This
rivalry is precisely what Formula One needed. Suddenly it makes no odds
that Mercedes are so far ahead because the championship fight is
perfectly distilled into a mano a mano fight, with two-thirds of the
season to go.
One regret: the BBC did not show the Monaco Grand Prix live, a deprivation for the casual, non-Sky audience.
Sky show all races live, the BBC then pick the three races they most want to show live. They selected the British Grand Prix, the Canadian Grand Prix — because it is at peak viewing time — and the last race, Abu Dhabi, as it could be the title-decider.
Sky then choose three races that they do not want the BBC to get their hands on. Monaco, along with the other potential deciders, Brazil and the United States, were on that list.
It is a shame because we have a 21st century answer to the Senna-Prost rivalry unfolding before us.
One regret: the BBC did not show the Monaco Grand Prix live, a deprivation for the casual, non-Sky audience.
Sky show all races live, the BBC then pick the three races they most want to show live. They selected the British Grand Prix, the Canadian Grand Prix — because it is at peak viewing time — and the last race, Abu Dhabi, as it could be the title-decider.
Sky then choose three races that they do not want the BBC to get their hands on. Monaco, along with the other potential deciders, Brazil and the United States, were on that list.
It is a shame because we have a 21st century answer to the Senna-Prost rivalry unfolding before us.
FIVE GREAT RIVALRIES
FERNANDO ALONSO v LEWIS HAMILTON
Alonso, the champion, demanded No 1 status over Hamilton at McLaren in 2007. It was denied him.
NELSON PIQUET v NIGEL MANSELL
Piquet called his 1986 and 1987 Williams team-mate ‘an uneducated blockhead with a stupid and ugly wife’.
ALAIN PROST v AYRTON SENNA
The two star drivers regularly collided on the track. Prost said they made up before Senna died.
NIKI LAUDA v JAMES HUNT
Lauda was given the last rites after a crash in Monza; he came back but lost the 1976 title in the final race.
STIRLING MOSS v MIKE HAWTHORN
The sporting rivalry. Moss campaigned not to have Hawthorn disqualified in Portugal and lost the title to him by a point.
Alonso, the champion, demanded No 1 status over Hamilton at McLaren in 2007. It was denied him.
NELSON PIQUET v NIGEL MANSELL
Piquet called his 1986 and 1987 Williams team-mate ‘an uneducated blockhead with a stupid and ugly wife’.
ALAIN PROST v AYRTON SENNA
The two star drivers regularly collided on the track. Prost said they made up before Senna died.
NIKI LAUDA v JAMES HUNT
Lauda was given the last rites after a crash in Monza; he came back but lost the 1976 title in the final race.
STIRLING MOSS v MIKE HAWTHORN
The sporting rivalry. Moss campaigned not to have Hawthorn disqualified in Portugal and lost the title to him by a point.
