Italian Grand Prix Talking Points

Now or never for Nico

It’s been said a lot all season, but Nico Rosberg needs to win this weekend or his championship hopes are surely up in smoke.

The German trails Lewis Hamilton by 28 points, but in truth the gulf between them has been far wider.

Rosberg is a good driver. He is fast, consistent and extracts the absolute maximum from the car, and himself. His win in Austria earlier this season was dominant, while he was lucky to win in Monaco and fought hard to win in Spain.

However, these moments are too and far between. Hamilton looks on course for a second straight world crown. He has retained the edge he held over Rosberg in races last season, and has now got the beating of him in qualifying.

Belgium typified the season so far. Hamilton started on pole with Rosberg beside him, and he kept the lead into turn one, while Rosberg played catch-up.

From there, the race was over. Hamilton has learned to control races as well as Sebastian Vettel, and, although Rosberg chased hard, it was always going to be in vein.

Hamilton looks like an unstoppable force. He has recovered from an earlier blip and looks too good for Rosberg to handle.

2015 is in danger of petering out. Hamilton is strolling. If Rosberg is going mount a serious title challenge then he can’t fall 35 points (or more) behind. That would almost prompt the fat lady to sing.

This is a must win.

Options running out for Jenson

As time goes on, it does appear that 2015 will be Jenson Button’s last in F1.

The Englishman is almost certain to leave McLaren. Kevin Magnussen’s claim that he isn’t prepared to sit around and with for another year was telling.

Ron Dennis wants the Dane in the car next year. He is young, fast and talented and seen as the perfect back-up to Fernando Alonso.

McLaren have the option to extend Button’s contract into next season, but with Magnussen threatening to walk away if he isn’t in the car does him no favours at all.

Of course, there could be other teams (higher up the grid), who could take a punt on the 35-year-old, but the last few weeks have seen several of those doors slam shut.

Ferrari confirmed that Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen will remain at the team in 2016, while Williams and Force India have followed suit.

Williams could have been a viable option. If Valtteri Bottas moved to Ferrari in place of Raikkonen , then Button would have been an ideal team-mate for Felipe Massa. However, it is not to be.

Button looks set to end his career languishing around at the back of the grid, and that is no way for a champion to bow out. It could be a sad end to a great career.

Can Ferrari challenge in Italy?

In a word: unlikely.

Ferrari has had a great season. They’ve won two races, become the second best team on the gird, as opposed to fifth last year, and have collected near a dozen trophies for podium finishes.

However, their great weakness remains their engine and in Italy, where power matters more than anywhere else, they are unlikely to have much of a chance of winning.

Meanwhile, Mercedes, the runaway leaders at the front of the pack, have the best engine and are likely to disappear into the distance.

Tyres-wear could make it interesting. Ferrari is notably softer on their tyres than Mercedes, especially in searing temperatures, as shown in Malaysia at the beginning of the season.

However, Mercedes have improved since then and, weather dependent, should have enough to see off Ferrari’s threat.

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