BAKU GRAND PRIX - ROSBERG TRIUMPH; HAMILTON'S WEAKNESSES EXPOSED!

As the tasks we are required to perform become more challenging, so we have to develop our knowledge and skills bases, the meet them.

Sunday's inaugural Baku Grand Prix, contrary to what had been anticipated, delivered a great race, with Mercedes' Nico Rosberg triumphing in a race which saw none of his challengers, including his team mate, Lewis Hamilton, coming close to giving him a fight for the lead in any of the laps.  In short, Rosberg, starting on Pole, delivered a master call race and results.

It was to the relief of everybody - except probably those teams which might have based significant parts of their racing strategies on the likelihood of accidents and the intervention of the safety car. As it transpired, there was no need for either the Virtual Safety Car or the real thing. The race was safer and much less accident free than others on purpose built circuit.

Well done, Baku, Azerbaizan!

Unlike his team mate, Lewis Hamilton had a poor race, which was characterised by him having started in 10th position, having racing configuration problems, a display of petulance, and, probably a display of pique, in deciding to turn down his engine, in order to 'save it', towards the end of the race.

It seems to me that Hamilton compromised his race and the likely outcome for him by displaying a series of errors, which, even if he were to be blessed by more than his share of good fortune or luck, would probably not have altered the result he got yesterday.  In my view, his weaknesses could be described as follow:

1. Driver error during Qualifying on Saturday, meant that he had greatly compromised his chances of winning or, as it transpired on Sunday, come anywhere near to winning, or even being on the Podium.

2. His failure to resolve the race configuration problem, which we have been told by Toto Wolf, had also presented itself to Rosberg, meant that he was driving his car under power for at least 12 crucial laps of the race.

3. His lack of sufficient knowledge about the technical details of his car has meant that he was being over-reliant on his team to give him information he should have known that the rules forbade them from giving. Yet, this did not stop Hamilton from 'picking a fight' with his team or trying to diss them for not giving him the information he wanted. This kind of regressive attitude and behaviour belittles Hamilton.

4. Hamilton's failure to resolve the driving configuration problem, by himself, until very late in the race, while his team mate, Rosberg, was able to do so, showed a significant deficit in his knowledge base of 'essential information' which can result in him winning or losing a race. This is a woeful situation, and one which Hamilton needs to address as a matter of urgency. He is a master driver and 3 times world champion, so it is really pathetic for him to be referring to the 150-200 switches on him steering wheel, and how he cannot be expected to know all of their functions, in rationalising his failure to resolve the problem.  Take a model of the steering wheel to bed with you, if you have to do so in order to master it and its functions, Lewis, but it is your JOB, to know it in and out.

5. Hamilton's apparent difficulty to be able to repeatedly 'dig deep' and find the answers, sometimes, and his tendency to become petulant, instead of staying focus and displaying resolute determination to overcoming the obstacle.  Yesterday was such a day, with Lewis appearing, during radio transmission between him and him team, to be attitudinally volatile, instead of remaining calm and taking responsibility for resolving a problem which was his to resolve.

It seems to me that the conclusion which Lewis should draw, following the public displaying of his serious knowledge and psychological mindset deficits, yesterday, is to avoid becoming complacent about his driving. He still has a lot more to learn, especially, it seems, in acquiring and developing his knowledge of the technical aspects of his car and their impact on his driving. He needs to spend more time mastering this area, especially now that he has identified that it presents a big challenge for him to know it all. 

He now needs to acknowledge that he has to learn more and take responsibility for and put the time into doing so; instead of appearing to be indicating that 'it is a terrible situation, but that he cannot do anything  about it.' 

That is the wrong attitude; you need to get it sorted, Lewis, if you are to become a truly great F1 driver, and not just a fast one be more passionate about your profession; in all of its different aspects. You can do it; so, do it!

The more information and skills we have, the better equipped we are to deal with any obstacles we encounter ahead.