Merecedes F1 racer Nico Rosberg is often second fiddle against his teammate and three time Formula 1 world champion Lewis Hamilton. This year is different as we saw Rosberg do amazing drives on the last few F1 races and finally got a decent lead of 23 points against Hamilton in the stats race. Is 2016 the year Rosberg will finally get the world championship?
The last Malaysian Grand Prix Formula 1 was full of action from start to finish since the incident at the start until Daniel Ricciardo crossed the checkered flag, and not just because the engine Hamilton broke just 16 laps before the finish line, but also because other drivers shone with their performances.
Max Verstappen did an awesome as the 17-year-old F1 driver managed to finished second while Fernando Alonso rev up from last place to 7th place. Rosberg was also one of the men that day. The German driver continues to show the world of Formula 1 why he should win his first world championship Formula 1 this year.
Rosberg suffered a tap output that made him fall to 17th. But he came back traced a solid and fast way to get to be among the top three. He put the "icing" on the run with an aggressive drive overtaking Kimi Raikkonen, and despite receiving a penalty of 10 seconds he still managed to finish third. We're not used to seeing moves like this from Rosberg.
In recent years, Rosberg had been in the background, below the level of Hamilton, but now things are different. At the start of the F1 season after the summer break. Hamilton is still ahead of Rosberg by 19 points. But Rosberg worked hard, tired enough to always place 2nd in their Mercedes rivalry and is now 23 points ahead of him. Rosberg has managed to overcome a situation that was against him and has also gained momentum.
Ironically, Rosberg has always been humbled in all his wins saying he is not thinking about the championship and just want to do his best at each grand prix. This season, the German is shining more than he has done over the last two years. He has earned eight victories this season and three podiums plus.
"If he wins the championship I think it will be thoroughly deserved. Since the pain in defeat in Austin [in 2015] we all saw a changed person in Nico. He went on to win all the remaining races and he's put up a very strong challenge this year." Damon Hill, 1996 F1 champion, said on this week's F1 Report, which airs tonight at 8:30pm on Sky Sports F1.
Hamilton, meanwhile, has been here before. In fact, he has been in the situation of needing to show resilience after a major setback on many occasions in his Formula One career and one of his strongest traits is his ability to bounce back. So dont count the champion yet as he never gives up.
He was so ready to make a comeback in Malaysia and is dominating the race but instead, his Mercedes engine failed just 16 laps before the finish line and he was force to depart. After the game, Hamilton belted out his frustration and said that he felt cheated
If Lewis Hamilton needs an insipiration, he can simply go back in 2014 where he is trailing behind Rosberg a well by 29 points and there are only seven races remaining. Hamilton didnt give up and goes to win 1st place on those seven races and finally take home the Championship.
Can history repeat itself for Hamilton? Or will 2016 truly be the year for the always humble Rosberg? This weekend in Japan, Rosberg will have a new opportunity to extend his lead in the championship but he must be mindful of his own team mate.
The end of the Formula 1 season can not be more exciting.
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