M.Nader -DODZ- wrote:
I don't know weather he has declined or not, but i will judge him based on how he does during the next couple of seasons.
I'm not saying he has declined. Far from it - We never really knew how good he was because he'd never faced a proven team-mate other than Webber, back in his rookie year.
What I'm saying is that MS showed that he was more than competitive in the last two seasons, but he still showed major weaknesses. So because Rosberg failed to convincingly beat him, perhaps he isn't a top driver like some think. As you say, we'll know for sure based on how he compares to Hamilton, but on the evidence I see right now, I fear for him.
M.Nader -DODZ- wrote:
Rosberg did completely outclass MSC during 2010 and 2011, MSC had absolutely no response.
Rosberg was ahead of MS by 13 points in 2011. And he was ahead in 7 of the 13 races both finished.
That's hardly 'outclassing' someone. Especially considering all the mistakes MS made that year.
M.Nader -DODZ- wrote:
Vettel was never known to be mentally tough till 2012. 2010 was riddled with his mistakes.
Nope.
Vettel made mistakes in 2010, yes.
But he was behind in the WDC going into the last five races. In those last five, he was pretty much perfect. Three wins, a second and a DNF caused by engine failure while leading.
You cannot say that isn't mental toughness. Especially at his age.
M.Nader -DODZ- wrote:
Alonso was known to be good since 2005 and was lucky enough to get his WDC early, but from the on this fighting spirit and ability to maximize car potential you talk about was also highlighted in 2012. Thinking back you know it was there but at the time it wasn't so clear.
To me it became pretty clear in 2006. People say 'Well Schumacher would have won it if his car didn't brake in Japan' but that disregards the team error in Hungary and the penalty/engine failure in Italy. He maximised the car potential virtually throughout the entire season, and made no major mistakes. IMO he'll never match what he did that year, though he came damn close this year.
M.Nader -DODZ- wrote:
Hamilton was Lucky enough to have a winning car when coming in the sport and thus there was no time when he was questioned except 2011 for his mentality and making too many mistakes.
There's being lucky to walk into the sport with a car capable of winning the WDC.
Then there is beating a double reigning champion in the same car.
M.Nader -DODZ- wrote:
Button was always consistent and excellent in changeable conditions, and has arguably one of the best racecraft in the field. Yet this was only noticeable once he was in Mclaren, but thinking back to 2003,2006, 2007 (china) and 2004 you can see the clues were there but just not enough people were looking.
I agree.
But I'm looking for the same good clues with Rosberg and the only one I see is that he managed to win a race despite spending little time in top machinery. Being paired with Barrichello helped Button a lot. Barrichello was Schumacher's benchmark, so any driver who beat Barrichello had to be very good.
M.Nader -DODZ- wrote:
Who knows Maybe MSC never lost it and Rosberg is just that good!
This I completely disagree with. Look at Spain, Hungary, Singapore this year. And his numerous misadventures in 2011.
Did Schumacher ever make such mistakes, that often, in his prime? Of course he didn't. So of course Rosberg isn't 'that good'.
M.Nader -DODZ- wrote:
A lot of people say that the Pressure is on Lewis, and in a way it is but for me it is the opposite: Lewis is a WDC who has matched two previous WDCs so i do know his talent, Nico on the other hand has done nothing of the sort so it is up to him to show what he is made of.
This is exactly what I meant when I said Nico has nothing to lose. In a way, Lewis is the most proven driver in the field. If Nico can just be competitive with Lewis, like Button has been, then it's proof that Nico is a top driver, unless Lewis has a really bad season.