Rosberg had less power at the start in Suzuka

  • Published on 29 Sep 2015 10:42
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra

Nico Rosberg has revealed there was a technical reason he fell behind teammate Lewis Hamilton after starting the Japanese grand prix from pole. According to some, the fact Hamilton won yet again despite starting behind his Mercedes rival in Japan is a clear sign the Briton is unbeatable in 2015.

"Hamilton, like Senna -- cold-blooded and without mercy for his rivals," said Italy's La Gazzetta dello Sport, noting that the reigning champion also matched his hero Senna's career tally of 41 wins on Sunday. And La Stampa added: "Already by the second corner you could see that Hamilton would be the winner."

Rosberg, however, says there is more to the story. For a start, he was sluggish off the line due to a technical problem, the German insisted. "I got away well but just before turn 1 Lewis was suddenly beside me," he wrote in his latest column for Bild newspaper. "My engineers told me afterwards that compared to Lewis my engine had less power because of overheating."

As for Hamilton's controversial and muscular overtaking move, which caused Rosberg to run off the track, the German insisted he was simply playing by team rules. "I know what people are saying -- things like I am too soft," admitted Rosberg. "But we have these rules in the team that we have to obey when we are fighting. So I behaved as I should have, as a collision would have meant zero points for the team."

However, not everyone is convinced about Rosberg's 2015 credentials in his fight against Hamilton. F1 legend Alain Prost traces the German's competitive decline back to Spa-Francorchamps last year, where Rosberg was severely reprimanded by Mercedes for colliding with Hamilton. "To me, there is a Rosberg before Spa and a Rosberg after Spa," he told the French broadcaster Canal Plus. "For me, he never recovered from that when he practically became the number 2." (GMM)

Replies (0)

Login to reply

BE Grand Prix of Belgium

Local time 15:41

BEGrand Prix of Belgium

Local time 15:41

World Championship standings 2025

Show full world champion standings

Test calendar

See full test schedule

Related news

Give your opinion!

Will Bottas challenge Hamilton for the world championship in 2020?

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
14 - Mar 16
Australia
21 - Mar 23
China
4 - Apr 6
Japan
11 - Apr 13
Bahrain
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia
2 - May 4
United States of America
16 - May 18
Italy
23 - May 25
Monaco
30 - Jun 1
Spain
13 - Jun 15
Canada
27 - Jun 29
Austria
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom
25 - Jul 27
Belgium
1 - Aug 3
Hungary
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands
5 - Sep 7
Italy
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan
3 - Oct 5
Singapore
17 - Oct 19
United States of America
24 - Oct 26
Mexico
7 - Nov 9
Brazil
21 - Nov 23
United States of America
28 - Nov 30
Qatar
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates
See full schedule

Formula 1 Calendar - 2025

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
14 - Mar 16
Australia Albert Park
21 - Mar 23
4 - Apr 6
11 - Apr 13
18 - Apr 20
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
2 - May 4
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
16 - May 18
23 - May 25
Monaco Monte Carlo
30 - Jun 1
13 - Jun 15
27 - Jun 29
Austria Red Bull Ring
4 - Jul 6
United Kingdom Silverstone
25 - Jul 27
1 - Aug 3
Hungary Hungaroring
29 - Aug 31
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
5 - Sep 7
Italy Monza
19 - Sep 21
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
3 - Oct 5
17 - Oct 19
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
24 - Oct 26
7 - Nov 9
Brazil Interlagos
21 - Nov 23
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
28 - Nov 30
5 - Dec 7
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
See full schedule

Driver profile

  • Team Ferrari
  • Points 3,430
  • Podiums 132
  • Grand Prix 215
  • Country United Kingdom
  • Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (40)
  • Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
  • Weight 68 kg
  • Length 1.74 m
Show full profile

Team profile

Show full profile
show sidebar