Rosberg ready to rumble as F1 returns at Spa

Spa Francorchamps is a great place to kick start the season after the summer break, says Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg. File photo: Manu Fernandez / AP

Spa Francorchamps is a great place to kick start the season after the summer break, says Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg. File photo: Manu Fernandez / AP

Published Aug 25, 2016

Share

Spa-Francorchamps, Belgium - 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 team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Rosberg won the first four races of the season but world champion Hamilton clawed his way back with four consecutive wins of his own before F1 took nearly a month off after the German Grand Prix on 31 July.

Hamilton now leads the standings with 217 points to Rosberg's 198 but the German is not giving up the fight.

“For me, it's like a clean slate at this stage,” Rosberg said. “What's happened so far this season is in the past. I can't wait to get back in that car, put my foot down and get everything I can from these next races.

“Belgium is a great place to kick start the year after the break,” he added. ”It's such an awesome circuit, 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 Friday practice, has suffered from a perceived lack of killer instinct in the past 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,” he admitted, “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.

Hamilton wants to feed off his nation's recent sporting success.

“It's been such a proud few weeks for British sport,” he said, “with the Olympics and then Cal Crutchlow becoming the first British MotoGP winner in 35 years. I'll do my best to keep the flag flying this weekend.”

Expect surprises

There is, however, 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 circuits, 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 expect surprises at the longest circuit on the calendar.

But with Mercedes so far ahead and many teams already focusing on 2017, their cars may not offer the best packages to really threaten.

New rules for 2017, including wider tyres and wings, mean cars could go as much as six seconds a lap quicker at some circuits - an easy distraction for the drivers as they dream of racing Spa this time next year.

McLaren's Jenson Button said: “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 every year.”

The return from the mid-season break also heralds the start of the driver merry-go-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 - as McLaren considers whether to give exciting reserve driver Stoffel Vandoorne a shot in 2017.

DPA

Like us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter

Subscribe to our

Related Topics: