Max has to take Bull by the horns
ROSBERG’S TITLE ADVICE
ASKED what was needed to beat Lewis Hamilton to the 2016 world title, Nico Rosberg’s response may come in handy for MaxVerstappen.
“It’s important to be at your absolute 110 percent for the whole season, because anything less you’re just not going to have a chance against him,” said Rosberg in a recent interview.
“And it’s also important to be consistent over the whole season, to not have any bad races.
“Lewis has periods where he loses a bit of motivation and it’s important to maximise those moments. If all that comes together you stand a chance.”
If Hamilton’s performance in Brazil is anything to go by, Verstappen can forget about dips in form or motivational issues for the rest of the season.
Hamilton and his Mercedes team were fuming at the stewards’ decision to demote him to the back of the field for Saturday’s sprint race for a DRS infringement.
His storming drive to fifth place proved to be a warm-up act for his Sunday heroics.
Hamilton, after another demotion for an engine change, scythed his way through the field from 10th on the grid before wrestling the lead from Verstappen with 12 laps to go.
If the seven-time world champion was struggling for motivation, then the events of the weekend in Sao Paulo have ensured he will be full to the brim of the stuff for the remaining three races.
Since being pipped to the crown by Rosberg, Hamilton has not been overly stretched.
Not so this season thanks to Red Bull’s resurgence and Verstappen’s talent. But there is a feeling of
“us against the world” in the Mercedes garage, that may be bad news for their challengers.
Verstappen was upbeat in his post-race interview but Rosberg is convinced pursuing a maiden world title, coupled with fighting a driver he rates “the best of all time”, means the pressure will eventually tell.
Most observers felt Verstappen was lucky to escape a penalty when Hamilton had to abort his first overtaking attempt after being pushed off the track – and Mercedes are considering asking the stewards to look at it again.
Verstappen has a 14-point advantage. But it could be whittled away in the blink of an eye. The circus moves to Qatar this weekend, and the Red Bull driver would do well to take heed of Rosberg’s words of
wisdom.