Rosberg: All drivers say they love awesome Spa track
MERCEDES driver Nico Rosberg believes the mid-season break will have done him good as he bids to wrestle control of the Formula One championship back from teammate Lewis Hamilton.
German Rosberg won the first four races of the season but world champion Hamilton clawed his way back, winning four in a row himself before F1 took nearly a month off following the German Grand Prix on July 31.
Hamilton now leads the standings with 217 points to Rosberg’s 198 but the latter is not giving up the fight.
“For me, it’s like a clean slate at this stage. What’s happened so far this season is in the past. I can’t wait to get in that car, put my foot down and get everything I can from these next races,” Rosberg, pictured, said in a team statement.
“Belgium is a great place to kick start the year after the break. It’s such an awesome track, with so many challenges and usually some crazy weather just to mix things up even more. If you ask any driver they will tell you how much they love racing here.”
Rosberg, who reports say will trial the halo head protection system in tomorrow’s practice, suffered from a perceived lack of killer instinct in the last few races with two terrible starts from pole ending his victory chances in Hungary and at home at Hockenheim.
Hamilton meanwhile took his opportunities with aplomb but knows he has a long way to go in his bid for a fourth title and third in a row for the utterly dominant Mercedes.
“The first half of the season was a bit of a roller-coaster, so it’s great to be in the position I’m in with more than half of the races behind us. There will be more up and downs to come, I’m sure,” said the Briton, who wants to feed off his nation’s recent sporting success.
“It’s been such a proud few weeks for British sport, with the Olympics and then Cal Crutchlow becoming the first British MotoGP winner in more than 30 years. I’ll do my best to keep the flag flying this weekend.”
There is though at least half a chance that a Mercedes driver will not be on top of the podium on Sunday. Spa is so challenging that engine and tyre management are tougher than at most tracks, which might offer a window to a Red Bull or a Ferrari.
Add the unpredictable weather to the equation, where often one part of the track can be sunny and another rainy, and there is reason to suspect a surprise on the longest circuit on the calendar.
But with many teams now already focusing on 2017 with Mercedes so far ahead, their cars may not offer the best packages to really threaten.
New rules for 2017, including wider tyres and wings, mean cars could go up to six seconds quicker per lap at some circuits next year – an easy distraction for the drivers as they dream of racing Spa this time next season.
“Spa is one of those legendary classics. It fully deserves its reputation as one of the great circuits on the calendar, and it never fails to provide great racing year after year,” said McLaren’s Jenson Button.
The return from the mid-season break also heralds the start of the driver merrygo-round when seats for next season are snapped up.
Former world champion Button, 36, is one name in the frame to be dropped and possibly face retirement with McLaren mulling whether to give exciting reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne a shot in 2017. – dpa