REPORTERS – 27/11/2016
Today Nico Rosberg achieved an achievement that some said never would be repeated after Damon Hill’s title win in 1996. But Jack Fielding reflex on a season which saw Nico repeat the achievement of his father
Father like son
Nico Rosberg has become a world champion in his own right. This season he has proved he can beat Lewis Hamilton on track in wheel to wheel battles, yes he has had the better reliability this season but in races where Hamilton hadn’t had the issues with the car he has been better and manage to beat his friend, rival and team-mate.
I had that famous line in my head from Murray Walker “and I’ve got to stop there’s a lump in my throat!” it was hugely emotional watching that race. Where Rosberg proved he could deliver when it mattered and continued the pattern we saw all season of him having the advantage over Hamilton. The hugs emotional watching the garage, it was right win first for you win the title.
Rosberg’s reaction on the podium “That was definitely not the most enjoyable race I’ve ever had. Very, very glad it’s over and unbelievably ecstatic. What do you call it when you give the win to my wife, to you [Vivian], amazing, thank you for all the support and to our daughter Alaϊa…”
“Yeah, very, very proud to have done the same feat as my dad achieved, he’s going to be coming in about half an hour I think, so it will be exciting to see him.”
It was a winless season for Ferrari after promise last year but what does Vettel think went wrong?
Ferrari can’t be proud – Vettel
Ferrari Sebastian Vettel says that the team “can’t be proud” of their winless season. The German last year was the only other driver than the Mercedes to take victory at three races finishing second in the constructors championship.
Despite their hopes of building on their successes last season the team has dropped behind the Red Bull’s who have taken two wins, one for each of their drivers Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen. Vettel has also struggled with his own performance this year, regularly under-performing to his team-mate Kimi Raikkonen.
Speaking to Autosoport Vettel said “We are working very hard, we are very committed. Of course, we wanted something else this year, for many reasons it didn’t happen.”
“Overall the car has been a good step from last year. Our performance was actually better than the results showed at times, but circumstances weren’t always the best.” Vettel added despite this the team still can’t be proud because they wanted to be fighting for the title.
He added that next year with the regulation changes it creates an enormous challenge for the team to get ready. The cars next season are having a major aerodynamic and tyre overhaul, Vettel underlined that Ferrari knows its ’16 shortfalls.
That includes qualifying performances, with Vettel having qualified on the front row three times last year including taking a pole position, but not at all this campaign.
“Next year the rules are very different and if you look at what’s missing this year, we’re lacking a little bit of downforce compared to our main competitors,” he said.
McLaren ousted Ron Dennis after Brazil but what does his successor Zak Brown see has their priorities as they look to rebuild?
Brown confirmed as McLarens director
McLaren has confirmed that Zak Brown will become the groups new executive director as they begin restructuring after the departure of Ron Dennis last week.
Brown will work with Jonathan Neale the teams chief operating officer and work with the executive committee to appoint a successor to Ron Dennis. He will start his role next month and will have “a significant part of a restructuring programme that will align the Group’s commercial and strategic operations relating to achieving success in Formula One.”
Brown has experience from the commercial side being the founder of JMI marketing group which has had close involvement with sponsorship deals in the sport. He had been linked with Liberty Media the sports new commercial rights holder, but last week it emerged he was leaning to the McLaren role.
Brown said “I’m immensely proud to be joining McLaren Technology Group, I have the utmost respect and admiration for what the business has achieved to date.”
“Having worked closely with McLaren for many years, I’ve been struck by the talent and ambition of the entire workforce, and I very much look forward to complementing the business’s many existing strengths, and building on them.”
He added that he has worked closely with the team before on sponsorship deals which has allowed him to develop excellent relationships across the company.
One Brown’s priority will be looking for a new title sponsor as the team has been without one for three years.
Singapore doesn’t want to hold a race anymore claimed Berine Elecstone this week. But what impact would that have on the city state?
Singapore impact
This week Berine Ecclestone suggested that Singapore didn’t want to hold the race anymore because they had reached their goal. But what impact would it have on the country.
Since Singapore started holding the race it has created a stronger brand and diversified the countries tourism. But with Malaysia pulling out after 2018 it could lead to F1 lose their presence in Southeast Asia, one of the world’s fastest-growing regions.
Ecclestone told German magazine Auto Motor und Sport that Singapore does not want to host F1 anymore, then clarified he did not want to lose Singapore. This hints that talks may be getting tougher.
A leading analyst from Deloitte James Watson says “I think Singapore has come in and negotiated hard and has realised they are in a position of strength to do so. This is one of the top ranked grand prix … and one of the markets that the key sponsors of F1 are most interested in.”
The race is 60% funded by the government and the country is debating whether it’s worth holding the race still. The race has become an event with music concerts and other events. But the global uncertainty of the financial markets caused by multiple political and economic factors could see the race dropped.
Around 80% of the spending gets recycled into the economy, with local firms hired for circuit set-up, ticketing and security, the Singapore Tourism Board says.
That’s all from Reporters for this week
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