An unprecedented ninth victory of the season at the Japanese Grand Prix, has given Nico Rosberg an unassailable 33-point lead in the standings with four events remaining to be contested.
Episode 3 of ‘Mercedes Wars’, which has seen Rosberg and his teammate Lewis Hamilton as the unquestioned championship contenders for the past three seasons, has largely been in control of the German.
Laying down the gauntlet immediately at the Australian Grand Prix, Rosberg stunned with four consecutive wins, earning him a 43-point lead over Hamilton coming into the European leg of the championship.
The reigning world champion’s season started conversely with numerous reliability problems and what has often been overshadowed as his own poor starts.
Eight pole positions have only been converted to the maximum result on three occasions, while Rosberg’s eight poles have achieved six victories.
The Spanish Grand Prix saw quite possibly the darkest day in the Silver Arrows’ history, with a desperate lunge from Hamilton on the first lap terminating himself and Rosberg from the race.
Whether this was a brain-fade from the mighty triple-world champion, or simply an attempt to psychologically maim his rival – it was quite possibly the most un-champion like maneuverer seen, which reeked of desperation.
It was the turning point however in this title fight, as the Briton got the ball rolling and won six of the next seven grands prix. In the calendar month of July alone, Hamilton outscored Rosberg 100 points to 57.
At this point it was debated whether the same old Nico had returned, the one who’d crack under pressure as in previous campaigns.
A race that was his for the taking was seemingly botched on the final lap in Austria, where a disorderly defensive move was made against Hamilton into Turn 2, which had gifted the latter the win.
Once again the support was in the court of King Hamilton, as he was widely praised in having overturned a 43-point deficit, to lead the standings at the conclusion of the German Grand Prix.
Since the mid-season break, it has been Rosberg that has again had the ascendency. The onus was on him to win races that he previously hadn’t and to recapture the lead in the standings. This resulted in the emergence of a reinvigorated Nico Rosberg.
Many argue that Hamilton’s power-unit penalties in Belgium effectively gifted another victory to Rosberg, as on many occasions this season. But how does anyone discount the imperious drives at Monza and Singapore? And indeed at the start of the season.
Against all odds in Malaysia, the German salvaged a podium following being turned around by the Ferrari of Sebastian Vettel on the first lap and dropping to last. He was able to nullify a contentious 10-second penalty for his rash overtake on Kimi Räikkönen late in the piece, to keep third.
Hamilton’s own woes have overshadowed what has been the strongest season yet for Rosberg. It would be a shame if 2016 is remembered as the season in which ‘Hamilton lost the title’ or ‘Rosberg inherits his maiden title’. Rather than recognising that he’s earned it with his solid performances.
As a faithful son to Brackley, since the revival of the works Mercedes-Benz brand in 2010, Rosberg has evolved over the years into a driver worthy of a championship crown.
It is often overlooked that on many occasions, the German outperformed his legendary compatriot Michael Schumacher – during their three-year tenure as teammates.
Schumacher himself was competitive until his ultimate retirement in 2012, but reliability and bad luck had masked the seven-time world champion’s results in the Mercedes AMG.
Despite Rosberg being in contention until the eleventh hour in 2014, it was the better driver who triumphed at the conclusion of his first bout for the title against Hamilton.
Year 2 in 2015 was skewed predominantly in the favour of Hamilton, who was the dominant force throughout the season and left everyone to question whether Rosberg had succumbed to the role of a ‘number two driver’.
Four races remain then in 2016. Rosberg is in the position where even if Hamilton wins the final events, he only needs a triumvirate of second place finishes and a third to have the points to be declared world champion.
By no means is the reigning champion’s title defence over. There are many variables that could yet deny Nico’s ascension to the throne, with the same reliability gremlins that have beleaguered Hamilton’s season, very much a threat to his own campaign.
However if this is to be the year that the 31-year-old son of 1982 world champion Keke Rosberg, wins his maiden title – then it is one that is wholly deserved.
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