The Official 2015 Malaysian Grand Prix Thread ***Spoilers**
Discussion
RichB said:
really good conversation between two F1 drivers. It's clear that Hamilton comes to life when talking about racing with someone who understands it.
Brundle seems to have a lot of respect from pretty much all of the drivers on the grid, and Bernie actually, he's the only journalist/presenter who gets the whole paddock to open up about things 
More quotes from that Mercedes press conference, Nico really loses it actually coming out with some really bizarre stuff. It's just so.... strange.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/articl...
Mail said:
At the Mercedes press conference, Rosberg put his hand up.
'Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG Petronas,' he started, imitating a journalist. 'There are a lot of comments on Twitter saying Nico blocked you. Is it true he blocked you on your second timed lap?'
Hamilton replied, smiling: 'I think you should probably ask him. I think he'll have a good opinion on that.'
The room laughed, but Rosberg appeared to be annoyed. He shook his head and twice said: 'That's not funny.'
Rosberg, going slowly, appeared to stay on the racing line as Hamilton was on a flying lap in the final qualifying session. But it made no difference because, as it transpired, Hamilton already had pole position sewn up. Rosberg was third fastest.
The German was then asked by a reporter if he did indeed intentionally block Hamilton.
'You best ask Lewis about that, he said. 'No, it is not even a relevant discussion because we were both on slow-down laps at that point in time. And that was very, very clear.'
Informed Hamilton had set a personal best in the first sector, Rosberg said: 'Yeah, but if you bail out of a lap it turns into a slow-down lap, doesn't it?'
It was then suggested to Rosberg that Hamilton only slowed as he came upon the German, to which he said: 'That is not true. He backed off way before coming up on me.'
Although the next question was on a different subject, Rosberg chose not to let the matter drop and remarked: 'How do we make that a fact, that he bailed out before he came across me?
'That is the interesting one because me just saying it isn't going to bear much weight. So, we need to think of one, which I don't have an answer for to make that a fact for you. I will have to think about something later on. Or you can ask Toto (Wolff, Mercedes motorsport boss) who is coming. That is maybe a good one. That will give some more weight to it.'
'Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG Petronas,' he started, imitating a journalist. 'There are a lot of comments on Twitter saying Nico blocked you. Is it true he blocked you on your second timed lap?'
Hamilton replied, smiling: 'I think you should probably ask him. I think he'll have a good opinion on that.'
The room laughed, but Rosberg appeared to be annoyed. He shook his head and twice said: 'That's not funny.'
Rosberg, going slowly, appeared to stay on the racing line as Hamilton was on a flying lap in the final qualifying session. But it made no difference because, as it transpired, Hamilton already had pole position sewn up. Rosberg was third fastest.
The German was then asked by a reporter if he did indeed intentionally block Hamilton.
'You best ask Lewis about that, he said. 'No, it is not even a relevant discussion because we were both on slow-down laps at that point in time. And that was very, very clear.'
Informed Hamilton had set a personal best in the first sector, Rosberg said: 'Yeah, but if you bail out of a lap it turns into a slow-down lap, doesn't it?'
It was then suggested to Rosberg that Hamilton only slowed as he came upon the German, to which he said: 'That is not true. He backed off way before coming up on me.'
Although the next question was on a different subject, Rosberg chose not to let the matter drop and remarked: 'How do we make that a fact, that he bailed out before he came across me?
'That is the interesting one because me just saying it isn't going to bear much weight. So, we need to think of one, which I don't have an answer for to make that a fact for you. I will have to think about something later on. Or you can ask Toto (Wolff, Mercedes motorsport boss) who is coming. That is maybe a good one. That will give some more weight to it.'
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/formulaone/articl...
Edited by hornetrider on Saturday 28th March 19:42
The only way he could have known that Hamilton had slowed, if indeed he did, way before coming up behind him was to have been told that on the radio or, maybe, been told that he had after he'd gone into the pits.
It was a clear case of reversing onto the circuit, or am I getting mixed up here?
LH appears to be using the incident to wind up NR. A dangerous game I might suggest. It won't endear him to team management. Further, NR has shown himself not to bear grudges without retaliation.
I'm in two minds about this: I like clean and exciting racing, but then there was all the excitement of last season. Win/win.
It was a clear case of reversing onto the circuit, or am I getting mixed up here?
LH appears to be using the incident to wind up NR. A dangerous game I might suggest. It won't endear him to team management. Further, NR has shown himself not to bear grudges without retaliation.
I'm in two minds about this: I like clean and exciting racing, but then there was all the excitement of last season. Win/win.
Derek Smith said:
The only way he could have known that Hamilton had slowed, if indeed he did, way before coming up behind him was to have been told that on the radio or, maybe, been told that he had after he'd gone into the pits.
It was a clear case of reversing onto the circuit, or am I getting mixed up here?
LH appears to be using the incident to wind up NR. A dangerous game I might suggest. It won't endear him to team management. Further, NR has shown himself not to bear grudges without retaliation.
I'm in two minds about this: I like clean and exciting racing, but then there was all the excitement of last season. Win/win.
This, the Alonso "Testing Incident" and so much more, only goes to convince me that F1 and the media circus that surrounds it cannot help but over analyse everything to such a degree that they failed to notice their collective disappearance up their respective backsides many moons ago.... It was a clear case of reversing onto the circuit, or am I getting mixed up here?
LH appears to be using the incident to wind up NR. A dangerous game I might suggest. It won't endear him to team management. Further, NR has shown himself not to bear grudges without retaliation.
I'm in two minds about this: I like clean and exciting racing, but then there was all the excitement of last season. Win/win.
The shenanigans just show how Lewis has become more media savvy and better still, is able to use it to bolster himself.
At one time when asked if Nico blocked him or if it caused a problem he'd have looked around a bit nervously, shifted from one foot to the other and made some vague statement and let the questioning and interrogation get to him, this would then drag on through interviews etc.
In the FIA conference he just dismissed it "I don't remember it, so I guess not". Strike 1 ! "I don't even remember you Nico, you didn't cause me any problems at all".
So Nico tries a little pantomime at the Merc PC and got it thrown straight back in his face - "You'll have to ask him." Strike 2 "In case you didn't get it, whatever you do doesn't affect me."
He got the media guys laughing. Maybe he's watched other drivers drop a little sarcasm/wit in press conferences. Either way he's getting the mental high ground.
Not sure what it is but it seems this year Nico has some sort of barrier and almost instantly suggests he isn't driving well enough, did it again today. I wonder if they've changed something in the car that he's struggling to get to grips with ?
At one time when asked if Nico blocked him or if it caused a problem he'd have looked around a bit nervously, shifted from one foot to the other and made some vague statement and let the questioning and interrogation get to him, this would then drag on through interviews etc.
In the FIA conference he just dismissed it "I don't remember it, so I guess not". Strike 1 ! "I don't even remember you Nico, you didn't cause me any problems at all".
So Nico tries a little pantomime at the Merc PC and got it thrown straight back in his face - "You'll have to ask him." Strike 2 "In case you didn't get it, whatever you do doesn't affect me."
He got the media guys laughing. Maybe he's watched other drivers drop a little sarcasm/wit in press conferences. Either way he's getting the mental high ground.
Not sure what it is but it seems this year Nico has some sort of barrier and almost instantly suggests he isn't driving well enough, did it again today. I wonder if they've changed something in the car that he's struggling to get to grips with ?
Derek Smith said:
LH appears to be using the incident to wind up NR.
Looking at the transcript of the press conference NR appears to be using the incident to wind up NR. It seems he's lost the benefit of the doubt in some quarters, not least in LH and the media. It must be frustrating enough to lose the on-track battle, but also losing off-track would rankle.Derek Smith said:
LH appears to be using the incident to wind up NR. A dangerous game I might suggest. It won't endear him to team management. Further, NR has shown himself not to bear grudges without retaliation.
Sorry Derek, that's at odds with the facts. Hamilton dismissed it at the first opportunity and Rosberg alone seems to have been persisting with the issue by making something of it at the next opportunity.Crafty_ said:
The shenanigans just show how Lewis has become more media savvy and better still, is able to use it to bolster himself.
At one time when asked if Nico blocked him or if it caused a problem he'd have looked around a bit nervously, shifted from one foot to the other and made some vague statement and let the questioning and interrogation get to him, this would then drag on through interviews etc.
Exactly my feelings. Lewis is like a different person this year, I see an absolute single mindedness from him and I imagine the fact that Lewis apparently completely ignoring Nico's little mindgames and tricks has really got under the latter's skin. And it shows on track. It's great entertainment, though the racing between them seems to suffer as a consequence. As long as there is a challenger, I don't care. At one time when asked if Nico blocked him or if it caused a problem he'd have looked around a bit nervously, shifted from one foot to the other and made some vague statement and let the questioning and interrogation get to him, this would then drag on through interviews etc.
It was bewildering when Nico asked for the racing lines of the 'first guy'...if I understand what it was about, he has gone down a little bit in my estimation.
RichB said:
Derek Smith said:
LH appears to be using the incident to wind up NR. A dangerous game I might suggest. It won't endear him to team management. Further, NR has shown himself not to bear grudges without retaliation.
Sorry Derek, that's at odds with the facts. Hamilton dismissed it at the first opportunity and Rosberg alone seems to have been persisting with the issue by making something of it at the next opportunity.coetzeeh said:
RichB said:
Derek Smith said:
LH appears to be using the incident to wind up NR. A dangerous game I might suggest. It won't endear him to team management. Further, NR has shown himself not to bear grudges without retaliation.
Sorry Derek, that's at odds with the facts. Hamilton dismissed it at the first opportunity and Rosberg alone seems to have been persisting with the issue by making something of it at the next opportunity.'Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG Petronas,' he [NR] started, imitating a journalist. 'There are a lot of comments on Twitter saying Nico blocked you. Is it true he blocked you on your second timed lap?'
Hamilton replied, smiling: 'I think you should probably ask him. I think he'll have a good opinion on that.'
The room laughed, but Rosberg appeared to be annoyed. He shook his head and twice said: 'That's not funny.'
From that report it would appear that LH has 'got the room' on his side. They all laughed with LH and in effect laughed at NR.
I didn't see or hear the press conference so I'm only going on the DM report.
I agree, LH dismissed it, although without saying that he was not impeded.
"That's not funny" from NR when the journos obviously thought otherwise. It seems a clear dig from LH for me.
I'm not having a go at LH for doing so. I have no idea what has been going on behind the scenes, but it appeared to me, reading the DM, that he came out ahead on that round. But such things have consequences. LH used to race with little thought for the consequences, my impression was he was letting his mouth do the same thing.
I could be wrong of course.
EDITED TO ADD:
Crafty_ said:
The shenanigans just show how Lewis has become more media savvy and better still, is able to use it to bolster himself.
At one time when asked if Nico blocked him or if it caused a problem he'd have looked around a bit nervously, shifted from one foot to the other and made some vague statement and let the questioning and interrogation get to him, this would then drag on through interviews etc.
In the FIA conference he just dismissed it "I don't remember it, so I guess not". Strike 1 ! "I don't even remember you Nico, you didn't cause me any problems at all".
So Nico tries a little pantomime at the Merc PC and got it thrown straight back in his face - "You'll have to ask him." Strike 2 "In case you didn't get it, whatever you do doesn't affect me."
He got the media guys laughing. Maybe he's watched other drivers drop a little sarcasm/wit in press conferences. Either way he's getting the mental high ground.
Not sure what it is but it seems this year Nico has some sort of barrier and almost instantly suggests he isn't driving well enough, did it again today. I wonder if they've changed something in the car that he's struggling to get to grips with ?
I agree with that to a great extent.At one time when asked if Nico blocked him or if it caused a problem he'd have looked around a bit nervously, shifted from one foot to the other and made some vague statement and let the questioning and interrogation get to him, this would then drag on through interviews etc.
In the FIA conference he just dismissed it "I don't remember it, so I guess not". Strike 1 ! "I don't even remember you Nico, you didn't cause me any problems at all".
So Nico tries a little pantomime at the Merc PC and got it thrown straight back in his face - "You'll have to ask him." Strike 2 "In case you didn't get it, whatever you do doesn't affect me."
He got the media guys laughing. Maybe he's watched other drivers drop a little sarcasm/wit in press conferences. Either way he's getting the mental high ground.
Not sure what it is but it seems this year Nico has some sort of barrier and almost instantly suggests he isn't driving well enough, did it again today. I wonder if they've changed something in the car that he's struggling to get to grips with ?
Edited by Derek Smith on Saturday 28th March 20:49
Just watched the quali.
Lewis - on it, in control, head seems to be in a good place.
Pleased for Vettel, good lap, not sure he can beat the Mercs but solid performance. Have terrible deja vu right now to MSC at Ferrari.
Nico - no idea what is going on, but he might be best focusing on racing and not banter in the press, though he is a v nice guy face to face.
Verstappen looks like the real deal; very impressive. A big team will poach him for 2016...
Lewis - on it, in control, head seems to be in a good place.
Pleased for Vettel, good lap, not sure he can beat the Mercs but solid performance. Have terrible deja vu right now to MSC at Ferrari.
Nico - no idea what is going on, but he might be best focusing on racing and not banter in the press, though he is a v nice guy face to face.
Verstappen looks like the real deal; very impressive. A big team will poach him for 2016...
SlipStream77 said:
Racing lines are actually a lot more complex than you think. But what he was asking was more related to tyre temperatures IMO.
Nah, the normal racing line becomes slippier in the wet due to the accumulated tyre rubber.Nico was effectively asking if the leading car had switched back to the standard line on a drying track to achieve its lap times or was still avoiding the rubbered-in line.
mollytherocker said:
SlipStream77 said:
Racing lines are actually a lot more complex than you think. But what he was asking was more related to tyre temperatures IMO.
Really? You dont say.Driving fast is complicated? Who would have thunk it?
red_duke said:
Nah, the normal racing line becomes slippier in the wet due to the accumulated tyre rubber.
Nico was effectively asking if the leading car had switched back to the standard line on a drying track to achieve its lap times or was still avoiding the rubbered-in line.
Thanks, I know about the wet line and the theory behind it.Nico was effectively asking if the leading car had switched back to the standard line on a drying track to achieve its lap times or was still avoiding the rubbered-in line.
As I said earlier...
SlipStream77 said:
I seem to recall he added something like, 'even on the straights', which suggests he was wondering about temperatures.
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