Formula 1®

Christian Danner on Nico Rosberg's Win and DHL Fastest Lap in Melbourne

DHL's F1 Expert and former F1 driver, Christian Danner

Nico Rosberg dominated the 2014 Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne, pouncing straight into the lead and never looking back. And he set the DHL Fastest Lap in new F1®-era style.

Hit play above to watch cockpit footage of Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg piloting the DHL Fastest Lap at the Australian Grand Prix and listen to former F1 driver, Christian Danner, tell the story behind it.

So far DHL’s F1® expert and former F1 driver, Christian Danner has been spot on. He predicted that Nico Rosberg would set the DHL Fastest Lap in Melbourne.

He also told us this new era of Formula 1 racing is “going to be awfully fun to watch.”

So far so good.

What does he have to say now that the season opener down under is over? “Nico Rosberg set the fastest lap in style [though the] style was slightly different to last year,” said the veteran F1 driver after the race.

“The rest the field is not all that far away and I think [...] this new era of Formula 1 racing [is going to give] us a load of fun and a load of action on the track.” (Christian Danner)

In recent years it typically took a light car and a fresh set of softs to be the fastest. The difference in Melbourne was that Rosberg set the day’s track record in lap 16 of the 58-lap race at Albert Park. The fact that he wasn’t in a light car, low on fuel and on a fresh set of tires just goes to show how fast the young German actually was in this year’s silver arrow.

“However, the rest the field is not all that far away and I think we can actually come to the conclusion that this new era of Formula 1 racing gives us a load of fun and a load of action on the track,” adds Danner.

In fact, Red Bull made an extraordinary turnaround since pre-season testing and the team’s number two driver –Daniel Ricciardo – crossed the finish line in second place, although he didn’t stay there for long. The young Australian was forced to relinquish his maiden F1 podium after the stewards decided his car had run with two high fuel flow rate during the race.

As Danner predicted in our pre-season interview, fans witnessed a number of retirements – seven in all – including most notably World Champion Sebastian Vettel as well as race favorite and polesitter Lewis Hamilton. The two stars completed a mere three and two laps, respectively.

On now to Malaysia where we’re sure to be in for some more surprises!

Did you miss Danner’s Fastest Lap tip for the Australian Grand Prix? Click here to watch it.

 

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