It's showtime Rosberg.
Since signing on with the car-manufacturing giants in 2010 its been eyes on the prize for Nico. Expectations were sky-high for the 25-year-old while driving alongside the most successful F1 driver of all time, in a team full of reigning world champion engineers. Now, a decade after his career began, we're approaching the race that could write him into the history books.
If you could describe Rosberg's time at Mercedes in a few words, it would be: In the shadows (cue the dramatic music). First, driving along the most recognizable name in the sport, and despite outracing the aging superstar for much of their time together, his recognition levels stagnated in an era when the only name on people's minds was Sebastian Vettel.
Then in 2014, everything changed.
New rules, new engines, new cars, and the playing field was level again for the Mercedes team to dominate. Only one problem, Nico's new teammate? Lewis Hamilton. The already-world-champion-superstar-since-age-13-mclaren-prodigy and already world champion sat in the garage next to him. Both the the long 2014 and 2015 seasons ended in predictable disappointment for Nico, finishing well behind his teammate on both occasions.
But not this year.
Nico rides into this last race (pun not intended) with twelve points in his favor. Thats roughly the difference between a first place finish and a third place finish, and Nico would have to finish off the podium with Hamilton on top for the championship to slip from his grasp. He's only finished off the podium 5 times this season. But in my opinion? Never. Rosberg has worked too hard for too long to slip up now. In the 10 years he's been in F1 he has earned a name for himself alongside the greatest living formula one driver, got married, had a daughter, only dedicated himself to two teams in that time, and now he's ready to let the world recognize him. It's time for Nico.
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