Nico Rosberg on Vettel: “It’s Just A Phase That Sebastian Is Going Through”

Nico Rosberg won the 2016 world title and then immediately called it quits. This was a man who had clinched something he had always cherished: a world championship. He had shared candidly, making no fuss about his feelings. That said, a lot about Nico Rosberg, of late, has been in terms of the views of a former world champion.

Someone who’s been no stranger to the highs and lows of the sport, the 2016 world champion, having faced a rather tough battler in teammate Lewis Hamilton can perhaps understand what Vettel is going through. And this, let it be reminded, is in lines with the fact that with 2 races done so far, Sebastian Vettel is yet to win a race.

Forget a single race. Not since 2013 has the German driver clinched a single world title. To that end, having been beaten by Lewis Hamilton, time and again, a lot about Sebastian Vettel- the way he conducts himself in a contest, his misses, and hits- has been brought under the scanner.

This, mind you, is for no other reason apart from the fact that it’s not any driver that’s been subjected to criticism; it’s Sebastian Vettel, a four-time world champion. Ferrari’s go-to man during the Raikkonen years and someone who brings to the table a superbly impressive record of 52 race wins, 111 podiums, Vettel’s undoubtedly name pops up a discussion every now and again.

Does it not?

That said, what does Nico Rosberg really think of the Ferrari driver, someone who’s not been on the podium in the past 2 Grands Prix, let alone clinching any of them?

It is just a phase that Sebastian is going through,” Rosberg told Press Association Sport. “It is one that all sportspersons have to deal with where things don’t always go to plan.

“You need to find your way out of that phase, and Sebastian is a four-time world champion, so I am sure he will be able to manage that.

With the Chinese Grand Prix just around the corner, in fact, only a few hours away, it remains to be seen as to what Vettel can bring forth for Ferrari and the Tifosi. Right?

This, after all, is no ordinary race. It’s slated to be the 1000th race in the history of Formula 1 and importantly, another brand new opportunity for the Prancing Horse to show what’s it got.

With the disappointment of the 2019 Bahrain Grand Prix well behind them, as one would hope, can Ferrari truly bounce back?

What would be really interesting would be to note whether Vettel can change his fortunes a bit at a track where he last won exactly a decade ago. Remember the 2009 Chinese Grand Prix? Vettel was only a 22-year-old then.