Ha Ha.

Yes, why the heck aren't Williams winning races ?

I mean is there any evidence at all of them being significantly better than last year and the Mercedes engine being a huge factor ?

I thought anyway according to you they just didn't challenge Mercedes to keep in with their engine supplier

I'm no supporter of double points for the last race, it shouldn't be more significant. But they have hardly declared 100 points to the winner.

The winner gets 50 points, the runner up 36 points 14 less and actually rather less than the current points difference between Rosberg and Hamilton.

By what logic has that created a one race championship and made the rest of the races pointless ??

Really wasn't expecting the Hamilton pole especially after his lock up. Fantastic!

Probably something to do with Alonso, Raikkonen and/or Ferrari being in with a shout of any of the major silverware.

Its ok, he normally looks that way.

Hamilton's DNF at spa wasnt in the plan and that has created the current points standings. Due to the current form the Mercedes drivers naturally finsh 1 and 2 often even with a screw up. So its hard to have big points differences between them. So hamilton just has to to chip away the gap then win the double points gp to win the WDC.

The double points was introduce to keep the WDC running to end. So a driver with a 45point lead could still in theory be beaten at the last GP but it prob wont happen.

It was not introduced to create a situation when the WDC would have been different if the last GP was not double points. Once that has happened then the double points is to influential and not required to keep the WDC alive in the first place.

Yes on that occasion Williams raced politicaly. Evidence for them having a good enough package to win races I would point to Australia where Botas was fastest of everybody untill he crashed also the front row lockout at Austria. So they have a reasonable good package.

I suppose mclaren being so poor left the door open for red bull also.

if Renault and likely Ferrari to copy the Mercedes engine lay out then all their teams have an additional redesign of the overall packaging of the car.

While this will bring benefits it will only be benefits which Mercedes teams already appreciate. Mercedes teams will benefit from continuity and be able to concentrate on advancing in other areas.

Em, I think google translate might have let you down there.

The only part I understood was the part where you're suggesting that Merc' teams will have the benefit of developing on a proven design.

Gotta give Merc' credit for openness.

Rosberg just cocked-up a practice start and then, a few minutes later, Brundle was interviewing Lauda, asked him about Rosberg's poor start and Lauda said he didn't know but, on-camera, he went and grabbed an engineer and asked him what was going on and was told that they'd replace Rosberg's steering wheel and the new one would be slightly different etc.

I suppose there'll be people who think that's all pre-planned to make them look good but, assuming it's legit', it shows that Lauda is willing to be open and honest about stuff.

*EDIT*

Oooh, Merc' reporting that there's still something wrong with Rosberg's car and changing the steering wheel didn't solve it.

*EDIT2*

Given the likelihood of a safety-car in Singapore, I hope Merc''s strategists can come up with something to protect Lewis from being in the same situation he was in at Bahrain.

Perhaps, start of options, go like hell, try to build a bit of a gap and then run the 2nd stint on the primes so that, after that, if a SC comes out at any time, he can swap onto options for the entirety of the remaining race?

Rosberg being told that if the car won't start properly on the parade lap he's going to have to start from the pit-lane.

ROSBERG STOPPED ON THE GRID!!!

Oh what a tragedy for Rosburg

Bet Merc' will be telling Lewis to go slowly on the parade lap and I bet Lewis won't take a great deal of notice.

WTF?

Alonso thinks he's playing Mario-Kart or something, taking a short-cut across the first 3 corners.

Blimey!

Rosberg being told that the only thing working on his steering wheel is the gear-shift.
So, no diff' settings, no engine modes etc?

He being investigated. Whew what a start so far

Titanic battle between Rosberg and Max Chilton

Ricciardo being told to avoid Alonso's tow and to position himself on the right of the track.

That's a breach of the new radio rule, surely?

Hypothetically, if Hamilton were to crash out and Ricciardo got past Alonso to leave a Red Bull 1/2, would Vettel be asked to move over for Ricciardo? Because that would be delicious.

Judging by his pace, Merc' must have set Rosberg's car for minimal ERS use, minimal fuel consumption etc because he can't change those things himself.

Why don't they retire Rosberg? He's not going to get anything out of today and the risk is unnecessarily hurting the engine.

Well, I suppose they're hoping they'll be able to sort it out and there'll be a SC which'll put him on the back of the pack again, allowing him to make up a few places and take a point or two.

I suspect they'll retire him at his last pitstop, if not before.

*EDIT*

Big cheers as Rosberg stalls the car in the pits.
Really am surprised at the resentment for Rosberg, TBH.

Nico's finished. Car's packed it in totally I think

Oh no! Poor Rosburg!



Karma is a real bitch!

Mercedes didn't help with people's perception of Rosberg by acting unprofessionally after the Hamilton collision. A racing incident was blown out if proportion by Wolff, Lauda and Hamilton and I can't see how he'll ever fully recover reputation wise.