NOVEMBER 17, 2015

Rosberg, Vettel wake up for 2016 attack

F1 is looking ahead to a more competitive 2016 season starring Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel, according to the Italian press.

F1 is looking ahead to a more competitive 2016 season starring Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel, according to the Italian press.

Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton dominated this year, but his teammate Rosberg is now on a run of five poles and two consecutive wins that bode well for a better 2016.

"F1 like a sleeping pill," Italy's Corriere della Sera said after an uninspiring race in Brazil, "but at least Rosberg and Vettel are wide awake.

"In 2016, the race for the title will be merciless."

La Gazzetta dello Sport agrees that Ferrari now appears ready to take one final step and take on Mercedes next year.

"Brazil was a pleasing prelude to 2016 in which Ferrari will go for the title without excuses. It's time to look to the future with optimism," the Italian sports daily added.

But La Repubblica wonders just how hard the hard-partying champion Hamilton is pushing on track at the tail end of 2015.

"Hamilton has never done such a boring race. To surrender in that way to Rosberg is not his style," it said after Brazil.

Toro Rosso driver Carlos Sainz is also hoping the battle at the front is closer in 2016.

"It would be nice if there was at least one team that can compete for the title with them (Mercedes) -- something like we see in MotoGP," he told AS newspaper.

(GMM)