Rosberg hoping for title edge

Mercedes' Nico Rosberg is hoping the new rule changes can give him the edge over team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the Drivers' Championship.
New start procedures are set be introduced when the season resumes at the Belgian Grand Prix on August 23 which will see drivers unable to adjust their clutch bite point once they have left the garage before the start of a race.

Under the previous regulations, the drivers were allowed to alter the bite point to optimise their starts and they were also given information from the pits about what settings to use, but the new rules have been introduced to switch the emphasis back to drivers rather than the engineers.

German Rosberg is hopeful that he can steel a march over his rival in the title race as he bids to close the 21-point gap that Hamilton currently holds at the top of the overall standings.

He said: "I like it because it gives me the opportunity to try and beat Lewis in that area. Whereas until now it's difficult because it was not really in the driver's hands."

The 30-year-old admitted that it will be a challenge for all the drivers to get used to the new ruling and he believes it will be interesting to see how well they are all able to adjust.

He continued: "It's going to be a challenge, it really is, because up to now it was so controlled by the engineers, who were doing the settings and everything. Now, to be completely on your own, it's a big change, so it will be interesting. It'll be easy to do it, but it will be complex to do it well."

The former Williams driver has never won at Spa, but he will be hoping to reverse that trend and secure his fourth win of the campaign when the season recommences.
Have you an opinion on this story? Put your money where your mouth is and claim a free £25 bet.