5 lessons for losing a championship

The advantage Nico Rosberg had over Lewis Hamilton at the start of the season is now melting away like snow in the sun. It should be noted that the German did everything he could to let his teammate catch up with him.

Nico Rosberg seems to have been somewhat unsettled in recent races, a far cry from the confident leader he was at the start of the year. After dominating the end of the 2015 season, the German started the season as the clear favorite, especially as his teammate and main rival Lewis Hamilton suffered a series of setbacks. But since the Spanish Grand Prix, his luck has changed and the championship leader now has only a one-point lead over his closest rival. What caused Rosberg's sudden loss of speed after a dazzling start to the season? The answer can be broken down into five key factors:

1 / Taking the title for granted: Rosberg got off to a perfect start to the year, winning the first four Grand Prix races while Hamilton was plagued by mechanical problems and mistakes. Bolstered by this early lead, the German may have started to think that the title was within his grasp. But a season is long, and a winning streak can evaporate in a single race. Rosberg now seems to have realized this reality. 2 / Underestimating his rival: At first, Hamilton seemed to be struggling after two consecutive battles for the title, his confidence shaken by recurring technical problems. Rosberg, meanwhile, continued to rack up victories and believed he had psychologically surpassed his teammate. However, a symbolic victory for Hamilton in Monaco reignited the three-time champion's momentum and forced Rosberg to rethink his assumptions. 3 / Clashes with his main rival and teammate: The most direct way to lose points is not to finish the race. In Spain, both drivers retired, with Hamilton bearing more responsibility. In Austria, Rosberg was penalized for forcing Hamilton off the track, which cost him dearly. It is essential that they keep their distance from each other and drive intelligently if they both want to maximize their points haul. 4. Strained relations with the team: Repeated confrontations on the track are beginning to irritate the Mercedes hierarchy. After the latest incident, Rosberg was singled out as the culprit, reminding him of the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, an episode that still haunts him today. He would be well advised to thank the team for their work rather than constantly apologizing for his mistakes, at the risk of losing their trust. 5 / Making rookie mistakes: The previous points converge on one overall mistake: Rosberg's management of the championship. His rivalry with Hamilton should be secondary to the ultimate goal of winning the title. If he had adopted a more measured mindset, he would have been content with second place in Austria and would not now have a precarious one-point lead. The final verdict on the season will only be delivered at the end, but Rosberg is currently in a good position to win his first world championship. To achieve this, he must consider the campaign as a whole and avoid the missteps that have already cost him dearly.