Button: Nico Rosberg should do his talking on the track

"DasWauto" (DasWauto)
04/17/2015 at 10:02 • Filed to: Formoolah Juan

A couple of F1 related readings for your Friday morning. First up is a bit of advice on dealing with Lewis Hamilton for Nico Rosberg from Lewis' former teammate Jenson Button:

"Over one lap, I don't think anyone is quicker, but over a race? Maybe. It is about engineering a way around Lewis to get an edge on him. That is the area where you have to work on.

"You can only rattle him by beating him, and for every race Lewis wins it is going to get worse."

Source: !!!error: Indecipherable SUB-paragraph formatting!!! (You might have to answer a survey to read the full article; I did on my phone but not on my computer).

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Also, some good insight on DRS in a Comment Of The Day from F1Fanatic:

You can find dozens of videos on Youtube with great overtaking action before DRS, when passing someone was really hard, even if you have a superior car.

DRS killed waiting for the unexpected, trying to get that better exit from the corner or following your opponent lurking for even a small mistake. Check the pass Hakkinen did on Schumacher at Spa 2000, while lapping Zonta, one of the best overtakes of all time. It would not have happened in DRS-era Formula, Mika would have waited to use DRS and make an easy pass. Sure we have more overtakes, but they are by-the-book, boring DRS-aided moves.

Secondly, DRS makes many alternative strategies impossible. When you are slower, you can't defend against a faster opponent. So usually, using a strategy that will result in having worse tyres at the end of the race, will get you overtaken. Besides that, even great defensive drivers, like Button often give up when in DRS disadvatage. That way we have even less fights, and we lose some great defending action, which to me is equally impressive as the attacking moves.

For me DRS has removed a lot of elements of the sport that I used to enjoy and each year I am wishing it gets removed. With "designed to fail" tyres, it's useless anyway.

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DISCUSSION (11)

Brian Silvestro > DasWauto
04/17/2015 at 10:15

####REKT

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > DasWauto
04/17/2015 at 10:21

I was just thinking about the passing thing today - DRS was really put in place to give passing chances because we now have the "no defending" rules. Remember back in the day how hard drivers like senna and prost could fight? That was what made the passes so epic - you had an unlimited number of possibilities. But now it doesn't make sense. Why risk ending your race when it is much easier to wait for the straight, pick your "fake" pass to use up their defensive move, then try and go on the other line with DRS. It's not a guarantee but it makes it much less of a risk.

Basically, F1 has hit the point where if we let the cars go as fast as technically possible, it might be beyond human ability to control. Or beyond human control to limit injuries or fatalities.

jariten1781 > DasWauto
04/17/2015 at 10:26

That way we have even less fights, and we lose some great defending action, which to me is equally impressive as the attacking moves.

They regulated great defending out even in the absence of DRS. You defend for multiple laps and you're going to get a grid spot penalty after the race for violation of articles 20.3-20.5 making it all worthless. They'll let it slide for the front runners as long as someone doesn't get punted, but mid-pack guys just won't bother.

With-a-G is back to not having anything written after his username > DasWauto
04/17/2015 at 10:32

Re: Button's comments, right on. Surprising that it needs to be said. Nico is acting like a child.

Re: DRS... Remember that DRS came into effect only as a reaction to the F-duct (which I maintain was one of the most brilliant hacks in the history of motorsport), and only as a way to restrict and regulate that kind of variable aero advantage. If DRS rules were loosened, and the driver could employ it at his discretion, I think it would bring back many of the elements you've been missing, while adding a new driver skill and enabling faster lap times.

Textured Soy Protein > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
04/17/2015 at 10:43

But...F1 got rid of ABS and traction control to make things more interesting.

Or maybe because Bernie just likes the spectacle of cars smoking their tires while locking up a wheel under braking.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > Textured Soy Protein
04/17/2015 at 10:53

Right. You would HAVE to have ABS and TC and ESC and all those other aids to make an "unlimited" type F1 car driveable. And I like the lack of ABS and the high torque turbo motors. Lots of sideways action. I actually think having more high-strung 4 cylinder turbos would be better and more relevant. 1.5L turbo 4s? Most manufacturers in the world have a production motor similar to that.

Maybe there's the balance - you must use a 1.5L turbo 4 based on a production engine design BUT you can then go wild with internals and turbo hookups and how you use electric power and twin vs. single turbo etc.......You still only have X amount of gas as well so fuel efficiency can play a part. Do you go with a more fuel thirsty setup for more power or go for a more efficient setup that lets you run lighter on fuel or run flat out for the whole race isntead of having to save gas every lap?

ceanderson920 > DasWauto
04/17/2015 at 12:00

Rosberg seems to be mentally broken compared to Lewis, especially now that the Ferrari's are nipping at his heels. As of now Rosberg is leading in practice 2 but I don't see that lasting to much longer.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > ceanderson920
04/17/2015 at 12:11

Kinja'd!!!

Lewis is so far in Nico's head at this point, it is shameful.

ceanderson920 > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
04/17/2015 at 12:17

Ya Nico is pretty much fucked at this point, I don't really like Nico but hopefully he can get his shit together so Lewis has some sort of competition. Unless Kimi or Vettel can start constantly challenging at the front the championship could already be over.

Trevor Slattery, ACTOR > ceanderson920
04/17/2015 at 12:27

The thing is that Lewis has been beating him FOREVER. There is video of them back in their karting days as juniors. Same thing. Nico is good. Hamilton is better.

I think people who hate on Hamilton must be younger fans who didn't grow up in the 80-90's era F1 racing.

Prost, Senna, Mansell....all of them were really prone to whining. Jeez, Mansell was a hot mess back then with his hysterics.

ceanderson920 > Trevor Slattery, ACTOR
04/17/2015 at 12:45

I just started watching f1 about 4 years ago and I never really thought Lewis was whining, but you said it right Nico is good but Hamilton is better.