In an age where the dynamics of motorsport are fast changing, quite like the sound of the 'new age' super cool newbie Turbo engines, it pays to be a Mercedes driver. And you don't have to literally ask Niki Lauda, the wise old Non Executive front-man at the team's brain centre. The racing outfit, encompassing the recently retired Susie Wolff, former racing driver for Williams (also a valuable glamour quotient for Merc), her husband and Executive-Director, Mercedes AMG Petronas Formula One Team, Toto Wolff, along with Triple World Champion Lauda himself are a formidable unit holding centre-stage of much of F1's glittery PR and Media universe. The reason is simple and the stakes, pretty high. Ever since the augmentation of the hybrid engines, post the completion of the 2013 season, the odds have largely circumvented around the Silver Arrows, who have produced a series of superlative engines, that have made Mercedes the car to beat, Lewis Hamilton (now, a triple world champion) the man of the moment and, their entire unit- a picture perfect cynosure of the F1 caravan. Firmly at loggerheads with Ferrari, the second best thing in the sport currently, Mercedes, with two back to back title wins and driver championships (capturing 2014 and 2015 season) have garnered some scintillating highs in the highest echelons of motor racing. The Silvery in the Silver ARROWSBut, amidst all the hype and drama surrounding the Bernie Ecclestone led entourage, it would be incorrect to think that it is Lewis who alone deserves the plaudits. Yes, here is a driver undaunted by the charge of Sebastian Vettel in a seemingly revitalized Ferrari and unrelenting in his will to let any other driver seize the driver's title. But, if the Silver Arrows are a triangular volt of superiority crafted by a dominant Lewis show on one end and the combined masterstroke of their engineering crew and Wolff's leadership on the other, then under Nico Rosberg, the third arrow of the Mercedes ensemble seems to be in a glorious knick, albeit a rather uncelebrated one. He's fast, consistent and lauded for possessing a cerebral brain. But for 30 year old Nico Rosberg, who's been a part of F1 since 2006, it is success in the sport that matters most over meaningless shenanigans. Not the one to paint his victory on the others by screaming on the cockpit camera or by jumping up and down, the crowds have gotten used to Wiesbaden born driver's calm and cheerful disposition on the podium. He's not had it easy, but never gave up But regardless of whether you are F1's most unsparing critic or an over-zealous fan capable of gulping down a bottle of champagne as your favorite driver triumphs on the screen, you might agree that winning wasn't always Rosberg's strongest trait nor a habitual sight. He's had to work hard for victories. And, seldom has he shied away from raising his craft in the game, be it hitting the F1 simulator for considerable portions or time or resorting to the painfully correct tedium of combining the best from the mechanical endurance of a gymnasium bound routine or those cardio based training. There are some skilled exponents of racing who have a subliminal streak to go flat out and stroke greatness gently with the push of the throttle and then there are those who slowly but steadily work their way through the rigors. Perhaps, you can classify the likes of Senna, Alonso and Hamilton as being in the first lot. Rosberg, the elegant looking German, seemingly besotted with supreme work ethic seems to fall in the second category. Look closer at the stats: Lewis fans tooIn the 10 years that he's raced, he's won on 16 occasions having entered as many as 187 grand prix's. In the first looks of it, these aren't stats that shall sweep you off your feet. But putting Nico's career in the context of the Mercedes Formula Team, you realize immediately that the bloke's prominence has silvery layers that don't quite come out as well if you separate the two: i.e., Rosberg and his machine, the Hybrid powered Merc F1 super wagon. Ever since Rosberg joined the Brackley (Northhamptonshire) based outfit in 2010, where he is currently racing from the on course of 2010 season, from 115 races, he's stood 2nd on the driver's championships (P2), twice in a row, for 2014 and 2015 FIA seasons and captured a brilliant 41 podium finishes. In so doing, Nico, the best export to Formula One from Germany ever since compatriot Sebastian Vettel - has set 15 fastest laps and secured 22 pole positions. Special fondness for the 'DIFFICULT'While there are no easy race-days ever for drivers out there, there are certain circuits that by virtue of longer straights and few high speed corners deduce the challenge into being a somewhat easy rigor for drivers. Spa Fancorchamps, barring its wet terrain, the 'cathedral of speed' Monza and Montreal's Canadian grand prix are fitting instances in this regard. In this regard, it isn't uncommon to see a racing driver doing very well on a particular circuit whilst settling for others and their dominant show on other circuits. Senna, the original 'regenmeister' (master of rains) was superb under rains at both Monaco and Japan's Suzuka. Briton, Lewis Hamilton's dominant show at USA (Texas), Suzuka and Sochi (Russia) is known to all, for his back to back victories in the last 2 seasons. Kimi Raikkonen, the Iceman has been hailed as the "king of Spa" for a dominant showing from 2006-2009. But, in Nico Rosberg's case, there seems to be a special love for doing the rigorous. The utterly challenging drives at topsy turvy Monte Carlo (spread over 78 laps), Brazil's Interlagos (73 laps), the tiring and tricky exultations of the picturesque Austria (71 laps) and the obdurate Australian grand prix (58) have resulted in some breathtakingly beautiful drives where the young German has secured back to back victories in some of the best drives of his career in the last 2 FIA seasons. With 3 victories from Monaco, 2 each at Austria, Australia and Brazil have escalated Rosberg's career graph with a certain consistency and rich vein of form that you would expect from one of the best F1 talents out there. Monte Carlo's Prince Charming takes on Britain's Poster boyIn the glamorous world of Formula One where rivalries often spin title contention into intense battles between driver egos, you cannot always expect teammates to gel like blood brothers. Ever since Schumacher's subsequent retirement post completion of his second F1 stint with Mercedes, in 2012, Lewis's joining of Silver Arrows(leaving McLaren) to partner Rosberg alongside has given modern F1 its most exasperating rivalry since the Senna-Prost days and also the most productive one for Mercedes statistically. While Lewis adapted to the Turbo V6 engines remarkably better than his teammate come 2014, Rosberg's impressive consistency and some stellar drives at season opening Australian grand prix, season ending Abu Dhabi and the newer challenges imposed at Mexico and USA ensured that he held on to P2, following closely on Merc's hero and Lauda's number one boy: Lewis Hamilton. Nico who stood firm on P2 in both 2014 and 2015, trailing behind triple championship winner Hamilton, by 67 points in the first year and 62 the following, ensured that he went on to collect a staggering 30 podium finishes. Through thorough pace and an efficient car handling, Nico ensured that his lead on third placed Sebastian Vettel stood at a considerable margin at 150 in 2014 and 44 in the concluded 2015 season. But stats, driver wars and media battles kept aside, you would be grossly mistaken to out-rule Rosberg's sincere contribution to catapult Mercedes in the stellar and commanding position it finds itself today. With enough fire in those four wheels accompanying a silently aggressive undertone, Rosberg on the podium today seems to be a manifestation of all the hard-work and skill that that 6 year old commanded when he first took to the karts. Now, several years later, post his ecstatic triumph during his inaugural showing at GP2 when he was still a teenager and his subsequent rise post a rather lackluster Williams F1 outing, we have amidst us a man who seems firm and confident of scaling his most glorious hike yet: winning the driver's title. And, therefore, it has to be said that in its clinical decimation of the Red Bulls and Williams who have shown pace on less occasions than you would remember, the Silver Arrows have the services of top cat who seems as driven to dominate on the race track as he is charmingly receptive of all the attention that is deservingly coming his way. Take a bow Rosberg! author
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