Rosberg Returns, Lewis Doesn’t Care: Suzuka To See Nico Back In Action

He’s charming, young and, successful. Girls love him; guys want to be like him. He speaks myriad languages, parties around the world and, balances multiple relationships- that of being a certain Keke Rosberg’s son, Vivian’s husband and recently, a dad for the second time- with equanimity and ease. You have seen him race cars. You have seen him make daring moves in high-speed corners- be it Suzuka, Monaco or, Silverstone. Above all- you’ve seen him emerge on the top of the world in 2016 as he clinched the F1 world title. Now, having gone missing for a year Nico Rosberg is back.

But wait, hold your horses- whether prancing or not. Nico Rosberg, an antithesis to Lewis’ 2016 title hopes is back to Formula 1 but not inside the cockpit. Rather, in the commentary paddock- a place the livens up manic action and pulsating speed through electrifying commentary, giving fans and pundits a lot to chew about.

In what is being seen as an exciting turn of events, the 32-year-old former world champion who quit F1, giving critics a lot to cheer about but breaking the heart of hundreds of thousands of fans will be at Suzuka for commentating the Japanese Grand Prix.

Rosberg, as per media reports appearing in multiple sports outlets shall be taking millions of fans through the developments of the Japanese Grand Prix as the action unfolds come race day, Sunday, October 8, 2017.

Having raced here on 9 occasions, up to his F1 retirement in 2016, Nico Rosberg gathered an impressive stack at Suzuka, finishing inside top-five on 4 occasions and inside top-ten on 7 occasions. He also collected what would be his only victory at the Japanese grand prix here at Suzuka in 2016, when he dominated the proceedings on race-day, having set some impressive lap times across all qualifying sessions. In denying Lewis Hamilton a victory- that perhaps didn’t seem as certain as what one can see now, with Hamilton leaving behind petty spoils often shared between Ferrari and Red Bull- Rosberg held his nerve to finish with a nearly 5 second gap over Max Verstappen- then P2.

Among the last hardcore circuits in F1 apart from the likes of Spa-Francorchamps, Suzuka has produced some classic car battles in the past. The scene of many famous race victories for a number of legends- most notably, Ayrton Senna and Michael Schumacher, it’s the former’s victory here in 1988 in a truly one of a kind McLaren MP4/4 that struck chords and made massive headlines.

The 53-lap contest we see today was, nearly two decades back a 51-lap race in 1988. In establishing his reign among Japanese fans that were awe-struck in seeing Honda win its home grand prix the Brazilian produced a master class in dominating all practice sessions, topping the charts on qualifying on Saturday and, by standing on top of the podium on race-day, October 30, 1988.

In winning what was then his maiden grand prix at Japan, where he’d previously collected an impressive P2 just a year earlier, Senna not only kept arch-rival and McLaren teammate Alain Prost at bay but drove a scintillating grand prix, setting a 1:46.326 on lap 33 on a hardbound circuit that had begun to get wet under sudden inclement conditions, albeit benefitting a man they termed, ‘regenmeister’ or, master of the rains.

Coming back to what could be an exciting grand prix here at Suzuka on October 8, Mercedes fans and those from Germany would be delighted to see Nico back, commentating about a sport where he’s played part in what clearly became since 2013 a terse, often dramatic rivalry with former friend, Lewis Hamilton.

While there would be no Nico on the track rivaling Hamilton on this occasion, it certainly seems that with the wake of Daniel Ricciardo (who has raced on 6 previous occasions at Suzuka) and Max Verstappen (race winner at last grand prix; Malaysia) collecting an incredible P1 and P3 finish at Malaysia respectively, one can foresee the sparks flying between the Mercedes of title-contender Hamilton and the Christian-Horner led outfit.

But while Sunday is still a few hours away, it isn’t too hard to note just why the excitement has returned to Suzuka for 2017’s Japanese grand prix.