Mercedes returned to form in Shanghai, achieving another 1-2, their 12th since the start of last year. The result has being overshadowed, however, by the fallout between the two drivers. Nico Rosberg was extremely unhappy with Lewis Hamilton, who felt his conservative speed compromised his race, and was leaving him vulnerable from an attack from third place man, Sebastian Vettel. He made his feelings clear and very public at the press conference, and in the forthcoming media interviews afterwards. Hamilton defended that he was just conserving his tires, and it not his “job to look after Nico’s race”. After the team briefing, where they had “a good sit down”, the team says the matter has now been resolved. With this not the first time the pair have clashed, and the scene of their titanic wheel to wheel battle on the horizon at the Bahrian International Circuit, can tensions be contained, or is the desert about to see more than one storm is week?
2015 BAHRAIN GRAND PRIX MERCEDES PREVIEW
No. 6 NICO ROSBERG (DEU)
Form: 2,3,2,14,1,
2014: Grid: P1, Race P2
Apart from last year’s pole, fastest lap, and coming second, Rosberg hasn’t fared well here. In his eight outings, he has only finished in the points four more times, with a combined total of 25 points before 2014. His best pre-2014 result was fifth, achieved in 2010 and 2012. He has completed every race he has participated in here, and he will need this consistency on finishing here to stand a chance on competing in championship.
No. 44 LEWIS HAMILTON (GBR)
Form: 1,2,1,1,2.
2014: Grid P2, Race P1
Hamilton has appeared on the podium three times here in seven outings, with last year been his sole victory. His other two podium finishes came in his time at McLaren. He was second in 2007, and third in 2010. He has also finished in the points in the other outings, apart from one. That came in 2008, where, starting second on the grid, he had a extremely slow start, and then ended up running into Fernando Alonso, resulting in him finishing 13th.
As well as challenging each other for the victory, they will have to be wary of Ferrari, who showed in Malaysia how well they do on tracks with hot temperatures. With that, and the warring tension between the Mercedes pair, is the season about to explode in the Middle East?
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