Formula 1's Latest Rumours and Talk: Nico Rosberg, Pastor Maldonado and More

As the championship race between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton continues to simmer, both Mercedes drivers will need to rely on every slight advantage if they are to claim the 2014 Formula One crown.

Much has been made this season of the differences between the teammates, which have contributed to create a compelling spectacle—and Rosberg has accepted that Hamilton, the Italian Grand Prix victor, has one key advantage that could help to decide the destination of the title.

Elsewhere, Pastor Maldonado has predicted that this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix will present plenty of challenges from a driving perspective, with the 24 competitors faced with wrestling the 2014 spec cars around the twisty streets of Marina Bay.

McLaren will head into the Singapore event with a renewed sense of positivity, with the news that their latest signing has begun his second stint with the team—and no, he doesn't go by the name of Fernando Alonso.

Meanwhile, Kimi Raikkonen—a former McLaren driver himself—has explained why Ferrari have been found wanting in terms of race pace this season, but has maintained his belief that the Prancing Horse's difficulties will be eradicated in time for next season.

Closing this week's roundup is Daniel Juncadella, Force India's back-up driver, has provided an update on his progress in finding a race seat for 2015—and has revealed that it will be all or nothing as far as his F1 prospects are concerned.

Nico Rosberg Admits Lewis Hamilton Experience Advantage

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Nico Rosberg has admitted that Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton may have the edge over him when it comes to experience of title battles.

The Silver Arrows drivers are separated by 22 points at the top of the drivers' standings with just six races of the 2014 Formula One season.

While this campaign marks Rosberg's first shot at the world championship, Hamilton has spent much of his career fighting for major honours, being involved in last-race title deciders in 2007, 2008 and 2010.

And following an Italian Grand Prix which saw Rosberg gift the British driver the race victory after making an error under braking while under pressure, the German has conceded that Hamilton's familiarity with high-pressure situations could aid his teammate's cause.

Rosberg was quoted by Autosport's Jonathan Noble as stating:

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It's not a concern for me. It might help him, yes, quite possibly having those experiences. But it's not something that I am concerned about.

I'm focused on my own thing. He is a strong competitor, he has his strengths and weaknesses, but I concentrate on doing my job with my team and getting the most out of it.

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Pastor Maldonado Prepares for 'Very Interesting' Singapore Grand Prix

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Pastor Maldonado has hinted that this weekend's Singapore Grand Prix will be one of the toughest events of the entire Formula One season for drivers.

The Marina Bay race is among the jewels of the sport's calendar, with on-track action taking place under floodlights on city streets.

The grand prix itself, which lasts for 61 laps, often pushes F1's two-hour time limit, requiring drivers to maintain their concentration levels throughout the events.

And with the extra torque provided by the new-for-2014 1.6 litre V6 power units set to provide a challenge in Singapore's many slow corners, Maldonado—no stranger to losses of control behind the wheel himself—is expecting a challenging race weekend.

The Lotus driver was quoted by the official F1 website as stating: 

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The 2014 spec cars will make it very interesting out there and I expect it to be very tricky, especially the first and third sectors. This is where a lot of time can be won or lost. It will be tough to regulate the torque and the traction out of the slow-speed corners. It will be a good challenge but a tough one lap after lap. It should look good for the spectators and TV viewers though.

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Peter Prodromou Begins Work at McLaren

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Peter Prodromou has formally began work as chief engineer at McLaren after joining from four-time world champions Red Bull, where he worked alongside the legendary Adrian Newey.

It is Prodromou's second spell at the Woking-based team having previously spent 15 years with the outfit between 1991 and 2006, in which time McLaren claimed two constructors' and three drivers' titles.

Prodromou, who has been hailed as a "key appointment" by McLaren's official website as the team look to recapture their former glories, said of his return via the same source:

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It’s fantastic to return to McLaren, and to see a mixture of faces old and new. Of course, I have first-hand experience of just what a passionate, focused and capable race team exists within these walls, and I’ve already seen the enthusiasm and positivity that exists to return McLaren to world championship-winning glory.

I, too, am determined to work flat-out to do everything I can to help initiate a new chapter of success in McLaren’s history.

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Kimi Raikkonen Believes Ferrari's ERS Needs Work Ahead of 2015 Season

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Ferrari's energy recovery systems have stopped the team from gaining on its rivals over the 2014 season, according to Kimi Raikkonen.

The 2007 world champion, who rejoined the team from Lotus this season, has struggled for form all year, scoring just 41 points in the opening 13 races.

Meanwhile, Fernando Alonso, Raikkonen's teammate, has endured a similarly underwhelming season by his standards, registering only two podium finishes.

And Raikkonen believes the team's power unit—and its troubles with harvesting and deploying energy through its MGU-H and MGU-K devices in contrast to the engines of Mercedes and Renault—were the main reason behind Ferrari's struggles in the recent races at Spa and Monza, where Alonso suffered his first retirement for almost five years with an ERS problem.

Raikkonen, who is adamant that the team will make the most of the off-season to bring their power train up to standard, told Ben Anderson of Autosport:

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I think in the race conditions it's one point that we have to look at.

But during the season it's not so easy [because of the engine freeze].

I'm sure we can make a 100 per cent improvement over the winter.

We have made some improvements already and I think if you look at certain engine manufacturers [compared to us] over one lap it's not too bad, but then in a race distance we seem to be struggling a bit in certain places.

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Daniel Juncadella Unwilling to Hang Around for F1 Shot

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Daniel Juncadella has admitted that he would be against remaining in his role as Force India's reserve driver if he were unable to secure a full-time Formula One drive next year.

Juncadella, the nephew of former F1 racer Luis-Perez Sala, has balanced his Force India commitments with race outings in the DTM, the German touring car series, in 2014.

The Spaniard is aiming to join the F1 grid in time for the 2015 season, but with Nico Hulkenberg and Sergio Perez, Force India's current drivers, almost certain to remain at the Silverstone-based team for a second successive campaign, Juncadella's opportunities would appear to be limited.

And the 23-year-old has explained that he would not waste his time hoping for an opening that might never arrive, telling Autosport's Ben Anderson:

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Honestly I think it's useful to have a year as a reserve driver, but I have to say I wouldn't do another one.

When you do a year as a reserve it's a good preparation for being an official driver, so my goal for next year is to get a seat.

Another year in a reserve role would make no sense.

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On his 2015 F1 prospects, he added:

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It's hard to say because there has to be a place for me, so there has to be movement within the teams.

We will see; it's still early. The positive things are that I have some experience with the car and my long-term sponsor is willing to keep helping me.

 

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