Austria saw Mercedes collect their second 1-2 in a row. The threat that Ferrari promised in the practise seasons failed to materialise, and the Silver Arrows pair dominated qualifying and the race, and increased their stranglehold on the championship. They now arrive at Silverstone, where they will want to be put on a good show for their British-based workers. Last year saw Lewis Hamilton take the win, after Nico Rosberg had to retire with a gearbox failure.
2015 British Grand Prix Mercedes Preview
No. 6 Nico Rosberg (DEU)
2015 Form: 1,2,1,1,3,2,3,2
2014 British Grand Prix: Grid P1, Race DNF (Gearbox failure)
Rosberg won here in 2013, where he took advantage of Hamilton and Vettel’s misfortunes. His other podium outing was in his first season at Mercedes in 2010, when he came home in third place. Even though last year was his only non-finish, it took Nico until his fourth outing here, in 2009, before he scored any points. Rosberg’s only other points finish was in 2011, where he took sixth place. That means in his eight finishes here, the German has only scored points on half of those occasions.
No. 44 Lewis Hamilton (GBR)
2015 Form: 2,1,3,2,1,1,2,1
2014 British Grand Prix: Grid P6, Race P1
Last years victory was Hamilton’s second one here. The first came in 2008, which was noted for his pure ability on the rain-soaked circuit. The gap from the second place Sauber of Nick Heidfeld was nearly 69 seconds, with third place Rubens Barrichello being the only other car that Hamilton didn’t lap in the race. It could have been a hat-trick of wins, as he was leading in 2013, before a tyre blowout ruined his race. He recovered to finish fourth in the end. Lewis has stood on the podium on two other occasions. A third place in 2007, and a second in 2010. Hamilton’s worse finish was 16th in 2009, his most uncompetitive year to date. Apart from 2009, the lad from Stevenage has finished in the points in every other outing here.
With the championship battle hotting up with Rosberg’s recent run of results, Hamilton will be hoping that home support can help him stem the tide. The threat of Ferrari looks to have dissolved at the moment, but the Brackley based outfit know that the Italians have the resources to quickly turn it around. The resurgent at Williams will also be viewed as a threat as well, and Mercedes will be keen to extinguish these, if they are wanting the hat-trick of consecutive 1-2 finishes.
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