Niki Lauda says Nico Rosberg’s victory at the Australian Grand Prix was vitally important for the German’s confidence as for the third season in a row it looks likes Hamilton and Rosberg will battle it out for top spot in the drivers’ championship.
The weekend did not start well for Rosberg after he crashed out in FP2 and failed to get close to Hamilton’s pole position lap time of 1:23.837 in qualifying. But when it came to the race Rosberg picked up where he left off at the end of last season after the German managed to win the final three races of 2015.
By starting the 2016 campaign in the same vein as he ended the last, Lauda believes Rosberg will gain tonnes of confidence and boost his title chances.
“He did a poor start in practice, I have to say,” said Lauda to Motorsport
“Because Lewis was driving again like always. But in the race he turned it around, so for him it was really good, and for us especially.
“You need this to have a good start into the season, because it gives him confidence.
“If it had been the other way round, if Lewis would have won, he would have suffered, because he always suffers when Lewis is there.
“So for him this race was important, to mentally stay strong, and have a good baseline for the next one. It’s good for him and for us, because the more they fight each other the better it is for me!”
Lauda went on to applaud the Australian Grand Prix claiming he hadn’t seen a race as exciting as this season’s opener since the hybrid era began.
“It was an exciting race first of all, I’ve never seen anything like this in the last three years, I have to say. The race was half decided at the start, because the Ferraris did an incredible start, both of them.
“We screwed up in a way, and we have to find out why. And then the race took its way. I think it was the best start [to the season] ever in F1. What a race we have shown everybody.”
