ON REFLECTION: US Grand Prix
Hamilton vs Vettel is something to look forward to
Lewis Hamilton finally claimed a deserved third world crown, and is basking in the limelight. He’s imperious 2015 form has finally got its rewards.
This was the year when Hamilton really showcased his amazing talent on a consistent basis, and has become the driver he once threatened not to become.
Now, attention turns to next year. And if tongues aren’t wagging then F1 needs a good look at itself. The pressure is entirely on Ferrari. The sport needs them to become serious rivals to Mercedes, and Hamilton needs Sebastian Vettel.
Nico Rosberg is a fine driver, but he is not in the same league as Hamilton. However, Vettel is. And seeing those two go head to head would be a season-long titanic battle.
The German has been in awesome form this season and has quashed the suggestion that he isn’t quite world class. Vettel is every bit as good as Hamilton. Who’s better? Hopefully they will have even cars, so we can find out.
Nico Rosberg on the grid at Suzuka
Rosberg needs to concentrate on himself
Nico Rosberg doesn’t wear defeat particularly well and came across as arrogant, spoilt and like a child on Sunday.
His mannerisms in the waiting room, on the podium and in the post-match press conference did his image no favours at all.
His grievance was Hamilton’s first-corner manoeuvre. The champion certainly pushed his luck and probably went too far, but Rosberg still had the whole race ahead of him.
In fact, he outraced Hamilton and deserved to win the race…if only he could close it out. Yet again, he caved under pressure and handed Hamilton a simple victory by making a mistake in the final few laps.
The German will leave this season with a scrambled mind and unpicking it will be hard. Hamilton has bullied him into submission. Rosberg would probably benefit from a Ferrari challenge as much as the sport, as it would allow him to focus on more than just his rival.
Scuderia Toro Rosso celebrate Max Verstappen finishing in 4th place at the 2015 United States F1 GP at Circuit of The Americas
Verstappen is something special
Max Verstappen just keeps defying the odds and produced another gobsmacking display with a fourth-place finish in Austin.
The sky is the limit for the 18-year-old, who has had the best debut season since Lewis Hamilton burst onto the seen in 2007.
Surely it will be only be a matter of time before Red Bull promote him to the first team- and Daniil Kvyat must be nervous.
If Red Bull stay on the grid next year then they could be forgiven for promoting Verstappen already.
If not, Kvyat will spend next season looking over his shoulder, because the youngster is destined for bigger things than Toro Rosso can offer him.
Felipe Massa, Williams FW37 Mercedes driving in the rain
Ecclestone’s sprinkler idea may just some legs
Bernie Ecclestone has come up with some daft ideas in his time, but the one when he suggested that an artificial source of water (a sprinkler system) which would soak the track at unpredictable times was laughed out of sight.
But is it so bad?
All the best races seem to happen on a wet track, which dries and then gets wet again. It causes chaos with tyre selection, strategy and drivers often spin off.
Surely, it’s a good thing to put the destiny of what happens into the drivers hands and take it away from those clever computer boffins.
It may not be fair. It may be too fake. But it would definitely make an often boring spectacle, unmissable.
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