How To Kiss: Apr 15, 2012

You may have thought Formula One would be ill death of German drivers sticking to holding an index finger in the air. Not German. Nico Rosberg's maiden grand prix victory in his 111th race, was almost as popular in Shanghai as it was back in Stuttgart, where Mercedes-Benz has its headquarters opulent and Brackley, where the race team has its base.

The man called 'Britney' - as in Spears' - for their well-coiffed mane of blond hair and effete manner, has not always been the most popular driver on the grid. When he arrived on the scene after winning GP2 in 2005, some in the Paddock thought he was a little pleased with himself.

The son of 1982 world champion Keke, Rosberg had a privileged education, went to an exclusive international school in Monaco and speaks five languages.

Amazing what a few years chasing that first win can do for you.

As Jenson Button, who won his first race at the 113th attempt, or Mark Webber who has the record to win in the 130th, Rosberg's long wait is not only taught him a bit of humility, it is guaranteed that when he finally got the job done It was well received by all.

"It's an incredible feeling," the 26-year-old admitted after storming to victory by more than 20 seconds of the McLaren pair of Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton. "It is a long time coming. We finally there."

More important in the big scheme of things, Rosberg's victory raises the possibility of Mercedes becoming a serious championship contenders this season.

With their DRS-enabled 'W' duct 'is now officially legal, their classification rate is guaranteed. Until now it was their race pace, their inability to put their tires working, that was the problem. Not here. The question is whether they can also make them work in warmer climates such as Bahrain this weekend.

It was a great victory for Mercedes, his first as a works team since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix, and it clearly meant a lot.

Having announced the return of the famous Silver Arrows with great fanfare in 2010, and assured the prodigal return of Michael Schumacher, it was a lean two years. Daimler, whose leadership was divided about a return to Formula One in the first place, there will be a total lot better this morning.

It may have had one or two had Michael Schumacher suffered no withdrawal of second place when a mechanic failed to tighten the nut in his previous right-hand wheel Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn, many difficult questions were asked as he racked up the bills recruiting big names in Brackley , was Fielding congratulatory phone calls from his father before he left the pitwall.

He made sure to call his wife, Jean, before talking to reporters. "She lives it," he said in way of explanation. "This is truly a special and historic day. I am so glad to Nico, he deserved to take his first victory on several occasions, and is now done by both handled perfectly judged race from pole position.

"I'm excited to see how he develops now he has this victory under his belt.

"We are proud to deliver the first victory for a Silver Arrow works car in 57 years. I was a year ago, when Juan Manuel Fangio won at Monza in 1955 - but this victory is something I will remember and savor for a very long time . "

They certainly did. The build-up to the race was dominated by talk of Bahrain, where Formula One runs this week, with fingers firmly crossed. But from the moment the lights went out all the speculation and intrigue set aside, this race demanded full attention.

Essentially it boiled to a strategic battle between those drivers who chose to two-stop, and those three.

Rosberg, who claimed the first pole of his career on Saturday, went for two, while behind him the McLarens, with Button starting fifth on the grid and Hamilton seventh, both on a three-stoppers.

Button may have even had a chance to hunt down Rosberg until a problem fitting a rear wheel on his last pit stop delayed the English.

Still, he made a spectacular battle for second place over the final 10 laps, with the cars running in line at the beginning of Kimi Räikkönen the Lotus in second place all the way to Paul gave the remainder Force India in 13th.

The day, however, belonged very much to Mercedes, and Rosberg for which this was a first win in any category since the last GP2 victory in Bahrain in 2005. "I am convinced that my time will come when the car is ready," he said. Is he going to challenge for the title? "Niki [Lauda, the three-time world champion] just said to me, 'From now on winning gets easier." So if that is the case I'll take it - he should know. "

How To Kiss

Sunday, April 15, 2012

Chinese Grand Prix 2012: Nico Rosberg claims maiden F1 win as Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton complete podium

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