It may be that a different circuit and a different environment will enable
Rosberg to restore his inner calm. Yet Singapore, with its endless sequence
of corners, is more relentless than anywhere else. Hamilton finally seems to
have his team-mate’s number, in pure speed and wheel-to-wheel, but he’s
running out of races.
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Relative radio silence favours Rosberg
Too often this year the television broadcast has been filled with messages
like this: “Lewis, Nico braking later in turn six and carrying more speed
through turn 10.” Or: “Which corners of the lap am I losing time?”
If it was not battered enough already, it did yet more damage to the image of Formula
One drivers as even remotely gladiatorial, as engineers gave
detailed driving advice to their respective pilots.
Mercifully, the FIA has put a stop to such practice, promising to more
rigorously enforce the rule that Hamilton, Rosberg et. al must drive the car
unaided.
Tony Ross to Nico Rosberg in the Italian GP: “Try an earlier apex in
turn 11, Parabolica. Try and open the steering on exit for scrubbing”
Link to Mercedes radio gaga
On the face of it, this might suggest that Hamilton, traditionally accepted to
have greater ‘natural speed’, will gain an advantage. Yet, over this year
and the last it has most frequently been Hamilton of the two Mercedes pair
that has sounded agitated over the radio and has needed the more guidance.
My bet would be that in a stressful situation, Rosberg handles the lack of
direction and instruction the better.
WHAT IS ALLOWED
Driver: “Which tyre am I going to use after my next pit stop?
Engineer: “Your car is on fire. Stop the car, stop the car.”
Engineer: “Okay Lewis [Hamilton], you’re five seconds ahead of Nico
[Rosberg]. You were one second quicker on that lap.”
WHAT IS NOT ALLOWED
Driver: “Where is my team-mate faster?”
Engineer: “He is carrying more speed into turn eight. Try using fifth
gear in turn four.”
Engineer: “Go to fuel saving mode four. You’re using too much fuel in
sector two.”
Engineer: “Try bringing the brake bias forward.”
However, aside from how it affects the Mercedes
pair, expect controversy to fester, with teams likely to challenge the
stewards on what constitutes lawful behaviour if they see an advantage can
be gained.
As Toto Wolff, the Mercedes boss, put it earlier this week: “This is a complex
and controversial decision which will require a significant effort from the
teams to understand how best we can work around it.
“The directive is not yet fully clear and there will inevitably be some
controversy, so it will need further clarification as to how much the
essential on-track procedures will be affected – particularly before the
start of the race.”
In short, the restriction in radio traffic should challenge the drivers more
and create the kind of controversy Formula One lives off. Simples.
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Another roll of the dice for Vettel
It’s the third chassis in three races for the four-time champion. While the
team found fault with his car in Belgium, elsewhere it has been a case of
desperately trying to match Daniel Ricciardo.
Sebastian
Vettel himself, insiders say, has often been bemused this year as to
how the young Australian has been quicker. The German hasn’t been able to
understand and get to grips with a car which has not been to his liking
throughout.
The argument is often made that Vettel, classed at the end of last year as one
of the ‘greats’ of the sport, should be able to adapt. Red Bull, as well as
Vettel, do not seem to have much of an answer as to why the likeable German
has been unable to do that.
Vettel v Ricciardo in 2014
Qualifying? Ricciardo 7 – Vettel 6
Race finished ahead? Ricciardo 8 – Vettel 1
Laps spent ahead? Ricciardo 322 – Vettel 302
If Vettel can turn it around anywhere, it should be in Singapore, a venue at
which he utterly dominated the field in 2013.
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The mood from Maranello
Needless to say, it’s been a turbulent week or two for Ferrari. Their
president, Luca di Montezemolo, has gone. The team is now run by two people
with almost no Formula One experience. If any team need a pick-me-up weekend
in Singapore, it’s them.
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The reception of Formula E
Not strictly to do with Formula One, but many miles from Singapore last
weekend saw the first race in the all-electric Formula E.
From my view, it was a decent enough little race, helped by a spectacular
crash at the end, but it does not provide a compelling alternative to
Formula One, at least for a television audience (live at the race may be a
different matter altogether).
I imagine a fair few in F1 will have tuned in to watch the race out of
curiosity. Expect it to be a talking point in the paddock this weekend.