Head To Head Nico Rosberg vs Lewis Hamilton

[Incubus]

Well funnily enough they did not that long ago use to start races without any kind of starting software... and the determining factor towards getting a good start consisted of old-fashioned notions such as catching the right revs at the right time at the most effective clutch biting point. I don't really understand why reverting back to that should represent as big a deal as it's currently being made out to be?...

 

[racecub]

Chad Stewarthill it was grip for Nico at Hungary, but Mercedes said it was an overheated clutch for Lewis that was probably the cause due to the aborted start when Massa was out of place on the grid.
I thought they both had similar issues at Silverstone, not sure.

Regarding Austria, Lewis was managing an engine issue. Here is Paddy talking about it.


Regarding Austria:

"At the time, it looked like a mistake by Hamilton, but in fact it was anything but. He was slightly late in dropping his clutch but that was because he was managing a very tricky problem.

There was a fault with his engine, which was not responding to his foot on the throttle. It meant Hamilton had to guess the correct position to hold the throttle for the start, and hope for the best. Incredibly, he got it almost right.

Mercedes replicated the problem with Rosberg at the subsequent test and he could not get the car off the line without stalling, despite trying several times. Hamilton had in fact, Mercedes executive director (technical) Paddy Lowe said, done "an amazing job" to do the start he did."

Full article: BBC Sport - British Grand Prix a win-win for Lewis Hamilton & Formula 1


But yes, they have to sort this clutch issue out, it's occurred too often and put them on the back foot. Not sure if going to manual will relieve or increase the issues........ But I'm personally glad more control is handed back to the drivers.

 

[Lewywo4]

I seem to remember Lewis' start problems at Silverstone were to do with grip rather than the clutch. And wasn't Hungary the same? Either way, he and Nico are going to have to up their game off the line and in the race in the forthcoming rounds, or they could both end up with a big red problem.

This change in the regulation may require the entire field to maybe up their game, and not be limited to only Lewis and Nico.

 

[Lewywo4]

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

Maybe so Lewywo4 but it's mainly the Merc drivers who have been having the problems, not the Ferrari or Williams guys.

 

[racecub]

It is indeed Chad Stewarthill. So do you think that reverting to manuals will make it even worse for the Mercedes drivers, or do you think it will level the playing field? I'm undecided. I honestly need to 'get a grip' over this issue, it's a tricky one.

 

[Mezzer]

Did Lewis and Nico really have bad starts? Both Ferraris seemed to be very quick but the gaps between the first and third rows looked to be about the same. Is the issue being over scrutinized due to the Ferraris being so quick?

 

[Chad Stewarthill]

Probably.

 

[Hamberg]

Yup

 

[RasputinLives]

I wonder if Lewis and Nico are victims of the old 'oh I seem to have taken a long time to get round to my grid slot' tactic from the others.

 

[Jos the Boss]

I remember the other teams complaining the Mercs were too slow before but I'm surprised the Manor's don't have consistent lightening starts

 

[Hamberg]

I don't recall Vettel hanging back too much? Although Ferrari have been bloody good off the start for some years.

 

[racecub]

Did Lewis and Nico really have bad starts? Both Ferraris seemed to be very quick but the gaps between the first and third rows looked to be about the same. Is the issue being over scrutinized due to the Ferraris being so quick?

They are concerned about the starts. It's not just Hungary. At Silverstone the Williams' beat them . And in Austria Lewis had that engine issue. That's three races in a row and both cars affected.,

 

[RasputinLives]

It used to be a common tactic a while back for the 3rd 4th drivers to 'take their time' so the heat would go out the front row drivers tyres. It was more common in the days of 'The Tyre Wars'

 

[racecub]

Yes I remember that tactic. And with the aborted start at Hungary that would exasperate things.,

 

[teabagyokel]

Raikkonen was third row as well, he made Ricciardo look pretty slow too.

Vettel generally outfoxed Webber off the start - could that have been his excellence?

 

[Spinodontosaurus]

Vettel used to be terrible off the line, arguably worse than Webber. He seemed to sort it out in his later years at Red Bull though.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Raikkonen was third row as well, he made Ricciardo look pretty slow too....

Ricciardo has been about the slowest starter for a year and a half now, maybe he actually had a reasonable start for once but Raikkonen was quick like Vettel?

 

[RasputinLives]

Nah because he got jumped by Kvyat and all too.

 

[racecub]

The Bleacher report takes a little look at Nico and Lewis over that last two seasons.........plus other things of interest.
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