Different seating positions, new breathing techniques, and extra homework: How Nico has left no stone unturned for 'The Rematch'
Monday 16 March 2015 14:15, UK
Different seating positions, new breathing techniques, extra homework and victory in the 'winter world championship'. Nico Rosberg is leaving no stone unturned in his quest to beat Lewis Hamilton to the title this year.
After Mercedes dominated winter testing, Hamilton and Rosberg are once again set to go head-to-head for the 2015 championship in a repeat of their absorbing, but frequently fractious, contest for the 2014 crown. 'The rematch', as Rosberg himself has previewed their fight, has already assumed top billing ahead of the new season.
Although Hamilton is the favourite to prevail and claim a third world championship, the scope of Rosberg's pre-season preparations underline both his determination to beat Hamilton and the dangers of under-estimating the German. Inspired by the bitter memory of his defeat last year to Lewis, Nico is a man on a mission in 2015.
"I know the feeling of not winning in the end and I don't intend to repeat that experience. It's a huge motivation for me and gives me even more determination for 2015," said Rosberg this week. "I have focussed on pushing myself even harder for the rematch with Lewis."
And his words have been matched by impressive deeds. Not content with setting the fastest time during winter testing and completing more miles than any other driver, Rosberg's preparations even extended to trying out different breathing methods in a bid to find a critical edge over his former friend.
"I learned some things in the winter. For example, my breathing in the race car was something I could work on," Rosberg told reporters in Barcelona. "When we go through fast corners, we hold our breath because we have so much G-Force. That one or two per cent that makes the difference in the end."
Rosberg's new breathing techniques are designed to increase his stamina during races, a palpable weakness last year when he invariably lost out to his Mercedes team-mate on race day after generally holding the upper hand over Hamilton in qualifying. Whereas the sight of Hamilton overtaking the sister Mercedes became a reoccurring theme during 2014, Rosberg failed to complete a single passing move on his team-mate. It was a stain on his candidature that ultimately proved decisive.
Quite what sort of advantage Rosberg can glean from his winter 'nurture' when pitted against Hamilton's natural talent remains to be seen. Theory is one thing but practice is quite another - and Rosberg's experimentation with an 'aggressive' seating position in the cockpit of his W06 has already been abandoned after a more upright posture literally resulted in a pain in the neck.
"I got my position in the car a bit wrong," admitted Rosberg after being forced to sit out the afternoon session on Day Two of the first Barcelona test. "I liked it but my neck doesn't like it. It's incredible how fine a line it is sometimes, it was centimetres and it changed everything."
The injury was a rare lapse in an otherwise near-perfect winter for the German in which he recorded the most laps over the 12 days and set the fastest lap time during the two Barcelona meets.
Not that Rosberg was sated with his haul of 759 laps, however. In a poignant image, Mercedes posted a picture on their Twitter feed, captioning Rosberg as 'the last man standing' as he remained hunched over a computer, studying data, in the team's motorhome as night fell after the final day of winter testing.
"We only have six days during pre-season," Rosberg had earlier explained. "A tennis player is on the court every day and we just practice for six days so it's really important to learn as much as possible and to drive as much as possible.
"I'm happy to be quickest, it's better than not being quickest! It's not worth much but it gives that little bit extra - it's always useful."
When push comes to shove, Hamilton will surely prove the faster driver again. But even in F1, the pinnacle of motor sport, speed can only take a driver so far. Driven by dedication, Rosberg cannot be ignored and if the anticipated rematch at Mercedes proves as closely fought as the 2014 precursor, Rosberg's attention to detail could yet prove the most important detail of all.
Sky Sports F1 will be broadcasting every race in 2015, starting with live and exclusive coverage of the Australian GP on March 15. The race starts at 5am UK Time on Sunday.
