MERCEDES, ROSBERG AND LEWIS - THE MRLF TEAM SHOULD WORK TO REALISE THEIR FULL POTENTIAL

We are a team family

Lewis Hamilton - and, yes, ipso facto - Mercedes, have dominated all 3 practice sessions for tomorrow's British Formula 1 Grand Prix as Silvestone.

And, to cap it, so far, Lewis has taken Pole position for the race. Congratulations, Lewis, and Mercedes, since, both go together and is reflective of a team working in unison, playing different roles and parts, and with neither being capable of realising their full potential, separately; the one without the other. I say this in the context of a good or excellent Formula 1 team needing a good or excellent Formula 1 driver to win races. It might be that, in some cases, though not many, an exceptional driver can win some races with a mediocre car, but, only exceptionally.

It was pleasing to see Nico Rosberg congratulating Lewis on his pole position, and to hear both men committing themselves to conduct themselves during future races, including tomorrow's, like true professionals and, I take it, avoiding coming into contact with each other - and, indeed, any of the other competing cars - during their races.

It has been proven that Rosberg and Hamilton are remarkable drivers who can and oftentimes win Formula 1 races, with Lewis having sofar won 3 Championship titles. This is not in dispute, although Rosberg is yet to win his first Championship title; which is a demanding challenge, as he has to compete with and beat his team mate in order to accomplish that milestone.

And so it is, that both Rosberg and Hamilton are not only drivers with the ability to win races, but they also have the complementary cars and team to enable them to do so.

This being so, the challenge for both Hamilton and Rosberg is not about them winning races per se, but rather about how they win the races they win and how they conduct themselves on the track. Whether they display 'boy-racers recklessness' and the mentality of trying to win at all cost', including to their team and themselves, or whether they display more chivalry and astuteness on the track.  Whether they show more patience and display greater but less risky tactical and strategic manoeuvres on the track.

Their need, as it were, is to show more perspicacity on the track; to allow, if needs be, one of them to forego the risky opportunity to overtake the other on lap 10, and, instead, plan to do it in later laps.

I hear and respect what Lewis has said about, 'if there is gap, go for it.'  That is quite right, all things being equal, but, in deciding if you should go for that gap, you still have to balance the risks of doing  so successfully, which you cannot do, unless you and the other driver respect each other and are able to communicate intuitively.  If there is 'bad blood' or enmity between you and your team mate, then you have to be more cautions and work on the premise that he is going to close you down or try to run you off the track.

I have already indicated that I am of the view that Rosberg was responsible for the collision between him and Hamilton in the Austrian Grand Prix. Yet, of course it is the case that Hamilton has to take some responsibility, since, whatever action we take give rise to a reaction.  

If Hamilton and Rosberg had, despite the stiff and, at times aggressive competition between them, established and maintained the strong working relationship they need to have, to enable the full potential of their partnership with Mercedes to be fully realised, then, and only then, will they be able to pull off, successfully, otherwise risky manoeuvres with the other. Because, once they have that kind of relationship - we are in competition, but we are still of the Mercedes Family, and not enemies - Rosberg will be able to 'read what his team mate, Hamilton, is thinking and is likely to do, and vice versa.


Considering the conduct of Hamilton and Rosberb towards each other on Saturday, its seems that they are committing themselves to building such a relationship.

I wish them well.  As part of the Mercedes team, they are brothers and they should behave as such.

As for tomorrow's race, they just need to think clearly, tactically and strategically, and drive expertly. Subject to their fated amount of luck, the circumstances of the race will determine in whose favour the balance has been tipped.

Enjoy the race guys.

Rosberg and Hamilton need to remain calm, cool, collected and focused for a successful partnership for the MHRT family