ON REFLECTION- Austria

Nico Rosberg finally beats Hamilton

The Austrian Grand Prix was a monumental weekend for Nico Rosberg, and the 2015 title race.

The German closed the gap behind Lewis Hamilton to 10 points, but more importantly he beat he beat the Brit convincingly.

Rosberg has always maintained that he has the ability to take the fight to Hamilton, and although that has been the case, he hasn’t showed an ability to beat him on track.

All of Rosberg’s five wins last season can be pointed to Hamilton’s errors or mis-fortune, and that continued this year.

Hamilton’s poor start in Spain allowed Rosberg to race ahead untroubled, while in Monaco the Englishman was all set to win until a foolish pit-stop decision by Mercedes handed it to Rosberg.

But in Austria, Hamilton has no excuses. Rosberg dominated the weekend, aside from a blatant blunder in qualifying which cemented Hamilton’s pole.

However, his electric start saw him zoom by and his blistering pace saw him ease to victory .

For Rosberg, it was a monumental mental barrier which he blasted through. Hamilton’s edge on him on race day was well documented. Now, the German has shown he has learnt, improved and can win .

The next race is at Silverstone, another venue Rosberg likes. The British crowd will have to be in full voice to stop him.

Felipe Massa, Williams FW37

Massa is having  a golden autumn

Felipe Massa’s three-year deal at Williams looked nothing more than pension money for a driver who had been so mentally tortured at Ferrari.

Massa’s downfall was painful to watch. Fernando Alonso dominated the team, leaving the Brazilian to drive behind him like his embarrassed assistant.

His confidence, and subsequently his driving, suffered a huge blow.

However, the popular 34-year-old has been a given a new lease of life. In a surprisingly fast car, it admittedly took Massa a while to get up to speed.

His pole in Austria was the stand-out moment in his 2014 season, which will be remembered for his inconsistency. He finished a long way behind his talented team-mate, Valterri Bottas, in the standings, but he gave a good account of himself. Definitely worth the money Wiliams forked out.

However, this year he has stepped it up again. He started the season as the lead driver, and scored hatful’s of points.

In Austria, he kept a charging Sebastian Vettel behind and hung on for an impressive podium. He is only a handful of points behind Bottas in the standings, who many think will go on to be a world champion.

Massa’s confidence is soaring again, and he’s back to near the driver he was in 2008, when he should have been world champion. One of the sport’s fastest men is having the autumn to his career that he deserves.

Crashed Ferrari of Raikkonen

Time is running out for Kimi

Two races ago, I said Ferrari would be mad to replace Kimi Raikkonen. How things change. The Finn has endured a miserable month and now looks likely to leave when his contract expires at the end of the season.

Raikkonen promised to be better this year, after an embarrassing 2014, which he blamed on the abysmal car he was given by the team.

Initial signs were good. Indeed it was Raikkonen, rather than Vettel, who concerned Mercedes more in the first few races. For one reason or another, he was nowhere to be seen at the front.

His outstanding performance in Bahrain aside, Raikkonen is still far away from his best. A silly spin in Canada cost him a podium, while in Austria he fell out with the team over qualifying strategy and he crashed into Alonso on lap one.

There is a sense at Ferrari that they want him to come good, after providing a car tailor-made to his strengths. But it is yet work out, and other men are knocking on the door.

To avoid the long goodbye, he needs to show his form of 2013 again. Unfortunately, there are signs that driver is long gone.

Nico Hulkenberg (GER) Sahara Force India F1 VJM08 makes a pit stop.
Spanish Grand Prix, Sunday 10th May 2015. Barcelona, Spain.

Hulkenberg mojo is back

Nico Hulkenberg is an unfortunate man. Once touted as the next best thing, it seemed inevitable that a big drive was just around the corner. However, for one reason or another, the call never came.

Now in his fifth season, his apprenticeship has been served, so it is understandable that he is frustrated. Force India’s poor start to the season has only compounded his misery, and he has spent most of the campaign locked behind team-mate Sergio Pérez.

However, his Le Mans victory has seen him rediscover his form. In Austria, he was sensational as he dragged the car home to sixth after qualifying in fifth.

With Raikkonen’s future at Ferrari in doubt, some more performances of that ilk may just help the German get his big money move.

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