Rosberg makes dream 2016 start

If Nico Rosberg is going to really turn last season’s late optimism into a serious title challenge, then taking full advantage of open goals is a great way to start.

The German has been gifted victories in the first two races of the season, with yesterday’s Bahrain Grand Prix win following Australia two weeks earlier.

F1 2016 is proving to be rather simple for Rosberg, who already has a commanding 17-point lead in the world championship over team-mate Lewis Hamilton. Things will get far harder. He can’t expect to breeze to the chequered flag unchallenged every week.

But this will give him the belief that he really is up to for the fight. Hamilton, for all of his sexy qualifying laps, better watch out.

If the defending champion’s pole efforts are Cinderella-esque, then his two starts on race day mirror the ugly sisters.

The new start procedure, which leaves the drivers with just one clutch instead of two, has caught the Englishman out both times. His recovery drives have been impressive and when he does figure out how to get off the line correctly, then it is going to be mega.

Hamilton will hope that Valtteri Bottas is nowhere to be seen in China next time, as he attempts to get round turn 1 unscathed.

The Finn was rash when he dived up the inside at the start yesterday, and Hamilton was lucky to avoid race-ending damage.

One suspects Hamilton will be angry following his two failures so far and an angry Hamilton is often a good sign for the following races.

Ferrari and Sebastian Vettel are also likely to be angry, following a spectacular engine blow out. The season began with hope of a Vettel title for many. He is already 35 points behind.

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