Nico Rosberg

Nico Erik Rosberg, son of Keijo "Keke" Erik Rosberg, is about to have his 100th Grand Prix meeting this weekend in Hungary.

I was about to write my "best wishes" to him in 'his' thread...but I couldn't find one...so, I figured I might as well start it off.

What is very interesting is that his father, Keke, took part in 114 Grand Prix races in his entire Formula One career, winning 5 of them - all for Williams from 1982 to 1985 - as well as a World Championship.

It's interesting in that Nico is approaching that number quickly and he's already about to finish off his 6th season in a few months...but without a win to his name...and no win in sight given the current pecking order of the cars.

Some say Nico is a great talent...while others say he hasn't fared well against quality teammates in their prime, so it's hard to judge. Mark Webber is, seemingly, his only reasonable benchmark and that was way back in his rookie season in a car that was one of the worst ones ever constructed by Williams.

What are people's thoughts on Nico Rosberg?

Regardless, Godspeed to Nico on the occassion of his 100th Grand Prix this weekend!

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Hamberg:

I was basically saying there's no link I can provide you with which says: "Keke advised his son not to partner Hamilton at McLaren too early in his career."

Hopefully Nico can have a good race without someone wiping him out or some team crashing the Number 2 car purposely or him going over the white pit lane exit line.

 

[Hamberg]

Oh right ok. Just so you know that question wasn't aimed specifically at you, it's something I've heard many times I just think speculation has become accepted as fact and it's been forgotten somewhat that it's never actually been said or quoted.

Oh god the white line I actually wanted to cry when he did that! He was so on for second and then the bloody safety car killed any hope of a podium!

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Ya, imagine how Sir Frank and Patrick Head felt!

 

[Il_leone]

There wasn't much of a choice for Nico frankly (other than staying with a waning Williams team (which really wasn't an option)).

Ferrari and RBR seats were locked out, leaving him to either partner Button at Brawn-Mercedes (the reigning title holders) who were on the cusp of becoming Mercedes GP or trying his hand at McLaren where he'd be up against Hamilton (a bad idea supposedly (at the time)).

BMW and Toyota were leaving and the choice was either Hamilton/McLaren-Mercedes or Button/Brawn-Mercedes.

The only logical choice at the time of signing was Button/Brawn-Mercedes.

It was widely reported MClaren were interested in Rosbeg for 2008 when Alonso left but were unwilling at the time to break Nico's contract in doing so which was about $20m which was another stumbling block on top of Keke's concern that Nico was being thrown into the lion's den

Towards the end of 2009 Nico said he was looking towards joining a top team if Williams were not competitive

It was believed he had already signed for BRawn who were to be Mercedes by the Singapore GP but not confirmed.
He was speaking to BMW and was apparently offered a contract before the team pulled out.

He even said himself he thought Button was going to be his partner until Mercedes had their own ideas with Schumacher and tried to play the fact that they were going to run the team on tight budget which clearly was not the case with Schumacher's wages

There was suggestion that Mercedes might have "loaned" him out to Mclaren when several other candidates including Raikkonen, and Heidfeld were linked with drives for Mclaren and Mercedes. It all depended on how Raikkonen and Button managed to suit themselves out with a deal at either team

 

[Hamberg]

link?

 

[teabagyokel]

So, I'm wondering,why would Keke have advised Nico to avoid Hamilton? Where does that come from?

Driving alongside a top class driver has done wonders for the fledgling careers of Michael Andretti, Hector Rebaque, Nelsinho Piquet, Heikki Kovalainen, Romain Grosjean, Sebastien Bourdais and Johnny Dumfries.

Keke (Derek Daly, btw) knows this!

 

[Fenderman]

Driving alongside a top class driver has done wonders for the fledgling careers of Michael Andretti, Hector Rebaque, Nelsinho Piquet, Heikki Kovalainen, Romain Grosjean, Sebastien Bourdais and Johnny Dumfries.

Keke (Derek Daly, btw) knows this!

Forgive me, but as a parent that's like me saying to my daughter "don't go there, you're just not good enough." Sure, I would say that if that's what I genuinely thought but then I think I'd try harder to help her change her career path. It just doesn't seem the way to instil confidence. Having said that, my girl's in show biz so it's not exactly life and death if she makes a mistake.

Incidentally, driving alongside a 2 time WDC in his fledgeling F1 career hasn't done LH any harm yet, has it? But, I suppose that's a reflection of the perceived (select your preferred option: a) by some, b) by many, c) by a few) threat to Hamilton's team-mates.

 

[Il_leone]

It was widely reported MClaren were interested in Rosbeg for 2008 when Alonso left but were unwilling at the time to break Nico's contract in doing so which was about $20m which was another stumbling block on top of Keke's concern that Nico was being thrown into the lion's den

Towards the end of 2009 Nico said he was looking towards joining a top team if Williams were not competitive

It was believed he had already signed for BRawn who were to be Mercedes by the Singapore GP but not confirmed.
He was speaking to BMW and was apparently offered a contract before the team pulled out.

He even said himself he thought Button was going to be his partner until Mercedes had their own ideas with Schumacher and tried to play the fact that they were going to run the team on tight budget which clearly was not the case with Schumacher's wages

There was suggestion that Mercedes might have "loaned" him out to Mclaren when several other candidates including Raikkonen, and Heidfeld were linked with drives for Mclaren and Mercedes. It all depended on how Raikkonen and Button managed to suit themselves out with a deal at either team

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Rosberg has admitted during 2008 he had an offer from another team - widely to believed to be Mclaren but he chose to stay with Williams ...although it seems a) Keke had a say b) Williams had a watertight contract of $20m at least if Mclaren wanted Nico to break

During 2009 during silly season Nico said he was looking for a top team in 2010 if Williams were not competitive and said he had 3 offers on the table

1 was BMW, 1 was Toyota and the other Brawn - the connection German engine suppliers and Toyota based in Germany.

the BMW offer was withdrawn when they pulled out. The BBc team Legard , Brundle and Co mentioned that Rosberg had signed for Brawn during the Singapore and Japanese GP

What complicated all the announcements was Mercedes' position in terms Mclaren and Brawn and who they wanted as drivers. I've said enough times Mercedes wanted in all German team and Button despite being world champion was less important to them than having Schumacher which has been their dream since they came back into F1

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Incidentally Schumacher's improved form in the last two races is going to put pressure back on Nico to step up again

 

[landogeorgelewis1]

Damn if only Nico wasn't tide down to that Williams contract in 2008 and his Dad let him make his mind up. We could have seen Nico really fighting for wins by now and IMHO Nico and Lewis are mates and would have made a dreamteam.

 

[Bill Boddy]

Damn if only Nico wasn't tide down to that Williams contract in 2008 and his Dad let him make his mind up. We could have seen Nico really fighting for wins by now and IMHO Nico and Lewis are mates and would have made a dreamteam.

Currently the Button thread is four times as long as the Rosberg one with many adverse comments. Had the drivers finished up the other way round in the teams then the threads would also have been reversed. The only thing is that I suspect that Rosberg would have been close to where Button is but not quite there.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Damn if only Nico wasn't ...

Well, if "ifs" and "buts" were Candy and Nuts, every day would be Christmas!

 

[Slyboogy]

I was impressed by Rosberg last season, him and Kubica, consistently dragging their cars up and outperforming their team-mates by a big margin.

I am not seeing that with Rosberg this season, his best performance was in China this year, but I have not seen much of him, seems to be under the radar, I was beginning to be convinced that he was one of the top drivers, but I am again left unconvinced over him

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

I was impressed by Rosberg last season... outperforming (his) team-mate ... by a big margin.

I am not seeing that with Rosberg this season, his best performance was in China this year, but I have not seen much of him, seems to be under the radar...

Well, he took the lead from 5th on the Grid at one of the toughest circuits in the world - without the use of DRS - and led in Belgium and mixed it up with the Big Boys.

That was only 2 races ago.

You can't blame him for Tonio wiping out his chances when he was in a sweet position at the last race when he qualified on the Prime.

 

[Slyboogy]

Well, he took the lead from 5th on the Grid at one of the toughest circuits in the world - without the use of DRS - and led in Belgium and mixed it up with the Big Boys.

That was only 2 races ago.

You can't blame him for Tonio wiping out his chances when he was in a sweet position at the last race when he qualified on the Prime.

Yeah that was good, but he faded away and the main reason he mixed it up was because of the Mercedes straight line speed same with Schumacher

Indeed, but I doubt that was the best strategy, it was stated after the race it wasn't the best way to go.

My point is, he hasn't been the way he was last year, seems to be anonymous

 

[Vortex]

We have no idea whether that strategy would have worked or not, hope he (or someone else) tries it again.

 

[Slyboogy]

We have no idea whether that strategy would have worked or not, hope he (or someone else) tries it again.

Ross Brawn did say it wasn't the best way to go judging by the way the race went, I will go and find the link if I can, of course we can't be certain as he was wiped out.

 

[Vortex]

Yeah I posted that comment before your post had appeared. Probably wasn’t a great strategy in hindsight then.

 

[RayInTorontoCanada]

Well, I haven't seen Schumacher leading any races in the Mercedes and Nico's been the only Mercedes driver who has scored podiums.

It's quite clear that the 02 was designed more to Schumacher's liking and, so, he's closer to Rosberg this year than last.

There was some rust in 2010 and less rust now...so it's more likely that Schumacher's improved his speed than the case that Nico's slowed down.

Regardless, Nico's still the faster driver and he's got plenty of years left.

 

[Vortex]

Id say Rosbergs the faster qualifier, Schumachers the faster racer.

And also, neither Rosberg or Schumachers had a podium this season, Schumachers looked more likely getting one than Rosberg, he was hanging on at Monza and don’t forget Canada.. You were there!

 

[Slyboogy]

It's quite clear that the 02 was designed more to Schumacher's liking and, so, he's closer to Rosberg this year than last.

Clear how? Both have similar driving styles...Mercedes don't compromise one driver over another...