It's an interesting topic and one I covered when we were looking at performance coaching for instructors in the military.
When Bob Beamon utterly destroyed the long jump world record at the 1968 Olympics, the three world class competitors, all of whom had beaten Beamon that year in other competitions, fell apart. The British long jumper and reigning Olympic champion, Lynn Davis couldn't even jump a mark matching his best that year. The American 1960 Gold Medal holder, Ralph Boston and the Russian current world record holder also failed to get anywhere near their best.
Had all three put Beamon's jump out of their minds and jumped the best they could, based on their performances in 1968, they would have all been on for the Silver medal. The trouble was, they were trying to beat Beamon while knowing thst was impossible.
We had to get our Military instructors to realise that everyone should be coached to their own best level and providing they are capable of achieving the standards required, some will do so by 10 percent and some by only 1 but they will still have done their best.
I get what Rosberg is saying to a point though. Brundle should have not worried about where Schumacher had qualified and concentrated on getting everything he could out his performance. Then, once he was satisfied that he'd done everything to his best, then he could have looked to see what his team mate had done.
