FORMULA 1: WINNING WILL NOT BE ENOUGH FOR HAMILTON! PART 2

After Hamilton secured the 2015 championship, Rosberg went on a rampage and when Hamilton eventually grabbed the reins in 2016, Rosberg was glowing with supremacy. Lewis rebounded, as expected, but Rosberg’s terrier poise and Hamilton’s uncanny association with bad luck ensured that Rosberg remained elusive.

Eighteen rounds have seen the departing red lights. Rosberg has won on 9 occasions. Hamilton has won 7 races thus far. Hamilton has had more podium finishes than Rosberg (Hamilton-14  Rosberg-12), but with Rosberg securing 2 more victories than Hamilton and one less dnf (Hamilton – 2 dnf Rosberg – 1 dnf), Rosberg hauling in more points is the end result.

ROSBERG

Three races remain – Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi. Rosberg wields an enviable lead of 26 points. The fact that both drivers have shown that they are capable of shelling the pack and rising to podium positions, despite the misfortunes which may arise, the task ahead of Hamilton is inherently laced with extreme difficulty.

The Mexican GP is in countdown mode. From three races, the maximum, seventy five points are available for P1. Barring the emergence of a prolific ‘madawoman’,the available statistics confirm that Rosberg will secure a significant portion of that which is available. Rosberg won the Mexican GP in 2015.

Hamilton is not a champion by chance. He is ruthless and self-serving when the need arises. And in F1 those qualities guarantee dominance when you sit in the best machine on the grid. A F1 observer I spoke to, who attended the USA GP, remarked that the Mercedes machines wailed in a different manner from all the other machines.

If drama is your drug, prepare to be trapped in an unyielding, relentless high because we know what lies ahead. Can Hamilton rescue his title defense from defeat’s grasp? Can he destabilize and uproot the German’s foothold?

For that to be accomplished, assistance from all quarters – Red Bull, Ferrari, etc. –  might be necessary because winning will not be enough for Hamilton!

Cecil Munroe Gleaner On-Line Writer