Formula One drivers are programmed to say 'we' when discussing their race rather than 'I', and Nico Rosberg is trying to shake off this affliction. "I struggle with that, because this is a team sport," he says, and that tells you all you need to know about 25 year-old Nico. He's in it to win it for himself.



He answered my first question by saying: "The season started well but I think we did better than the car deserved". Then he corrects himself. "My father says I need to start saying 'I' rather than 'we' all the time."

Nico's father has been there and got the tight 80s Marlboro-sponsored t-shirt, for Keke Rosberg - a man who flaunted regulations by smoking in the pits and wearing a moustache so bushy he could barely get his balaclava on - won the 1982 title and then guided the career of double world champion and fellow Finn Mika Hakkinen, before opening doors for his talented young son.

"I don't ask him for advice so much when it comes to driving and engineering. It's such a big organization behind me, like a company, and he helps me to look after that. I'm making good money from my career now and he helps with that". Nico arrives at races aboard his own Citation jet. His flowing blond bob earned him the nickname 'Britney' from his mechanics. Was there a sense of destiny, of entitlement as he rose through the racing ranks? "I think yeah, probably. I watched my dad race when I was a kid and that was amazing. I saw that and thought that would be a cool job to do some day."

Five years into his F1 career, Nico is now with a top team - Mercedes - and is whipping his illustrious team mate, Michael Schumacher. Mercedes have struggled to match Red Bull and McLaren's pace, but Nico has won three podiums this year nonetheless.

"I made the best of the conditions", he says, putting emphasis on the "I" as instructed. As for Michael: "You just didn't get to see his real pace [so far this year] because he didn't manage to make the best of the situations.

"I've learned a lot [from Michael], but I think he's learned a thing or two from me also. We share information and everything. I'm very fortunate to experience this. One of his strengths is finding the set up, which is also one of my strengths. It's good for the team that we work in this same direction."

He claims he's being pushed much harder now than by previous team mates Alex Wurz and Kazuki Nakajima, but judging by the gap it's Nico that's pushing Schumacher hard. He's often half a second a lap quicker in qualifying.

Was it a shock when he heard he'd be partnering the most successful driver of all time? "Yes it was a shock, but a good one. It's always a good thing to have a strong team mate".

Rosberg is taking delight at beating one of his racing heroes. Prospective team mates be warned.

QUICKFIRE QUESTIONS:


Which three celebrities would you like to invite to dinner?

Muhammed Ali, Lance Armstrong, and Nelson Mandela

What's the last tune you downloaded?

Jay Z and Alicia Keys - Empire State of Mind

What was the first car you owned?

Audi RS6, which was pretty awesome as a first car as an 18 year-old. It was my dad's and he gave it to me because he preferred safety over the modesty of having a small car.

Where did you meet your girlfriend, Vivian?

Ibiza

What's the best freebie you've been given?

A watch. (Ask's PR minder) Do you think I'm allowed to say? No, I'm not allowed to say but it's a nice watch. A very very expensive watch. Tens of thousands. It's awesome.

What's your favourite place to go on holiday?

Thailand. No, wait, Ibiza!

Sebastian Vettel's driving has come in for a lot of criticism in the last 48hrs. People are questioning if he has a cool enough head to win the title. Red Bull said Button braked early. Button says the track was bone dry and he braked in the same place he had done for the previous 15 laps. But I've just seen a video, posted here, which rather indicates Red Bull had a front wing issue.

Is this extreme flexing or has the mounting broken before impact? Don't forget, the FIA increased the loads in its wing tests in Spa.

But if the mounting broke, the wing would have dropped on the floor and would be quickly under Seb's wheels, so it must remain attached - it must be extreme flexing, despite this being a stiffer wing than the one used in Hungary.

Red Bull are thought to have preloaded springs set into the carbon - that's their trick, so I'm told.
 

Lewis Hamilton won a classic nail-biting Belgian Grand Prix to seize the lead of the Formula One world championship, after many of his rivals failed to score.

Pole sitter Mark Webber had a clutch issue at the start which triggered his Red Bull's anti-stall system, and he was passed by half a dozen cars into Turn 1, including Hamilton who led all the way to the finish despite two safety car periods and changeable weather.

"I was praying the race would go smoothly. When you're in the lead you're the first to arrive at what's ahead of you. You have to stay very sharp."

On lap 35 the Englishman slid off the circuit as rain began to fall, tip toeing across the gravel and managing to continue despite touching the tyre wall. "I was on the edge of my seat. I clipped the wall with my wing. The thing just didn't want to stop." But he recovered, while others weren't so lucky.

The safety car was out as early as Lap 2 after Rubens Barrichello, in his 300th race, locked up into the Bus Stop chicane and ploughed into Fernando Alonso.

The biggest upset came on Lap 17 when Sebastian Vettel, chasing Jenson Button for second place, lost control as he dived out of the McLaren's slipstream and speared into Button's sidepod, destroying the world champion's car. Vettel was able to continue but was handed a drive-thru penalty and later suffered a puncture. As he rumbled down the pitlane the McLaren mechanics emerged from their garage to stand cross-armed, demonstrating their displeasure.

Alonso too was able to continue at the back of the field but lost control at Malmedy on Lap 38 and parked his car in the middle of the track, prompting the safety car's second appearance.

Robert Kubica was driving brilliantly in second place until he pitted on Lap 35. Taking the opportunity to change settings on his steering wheel, he fumbled his braking point, slid on the pitlane's painted line, and overshot his box, delaying his tyre change. Webber, in recovery mode, was able to leapfrog him.

Hamilton now leads the title chase by a slim margin - just three points ahead of Webber. Webber now has a 28 point advantage over team mate Vettel, and has called for Red Bull to throw all their weight behind him. Asked if the team should focus on him, he said: "It depends how hungry they are."

A heavy, spitting grey cloud looms over the rolling Spa Francorchamps circuit and threatens to stay all weekend. The Belgian track - at 7km the longest on the Formula One calendar - is notorious for its changeable weather. For the engineers, it's a set-up lottery. For the drivers, with high-speed corners and blind crests like the famous Eau Rouge to contend with, Spa is a rollercoaster.

I looked out of the window of the press room five minutes ago and it was sunny. Then I looked up two minutes later and - Jesus! - it's foggy and rainy now.

The track and surrounding villages haven't changed much since the classic racing movie Grand Prix was filmed here with James Garner in 1968. Today, race goers clink frothy trappist brews in the same hostelries Jim Clark, Graham Hill and Jochen Rindt used to celebrate their victories and near misses.

F1 returns after a three-week break during which the factories have been under lockdown. As the drivers and mechanics return to work from holidays in sunnier climbs, huddled in their waterproof jackets, there's much tutting... but also excitement as to what can be expected on Sunday.

The Ardennes always provides a thrilling race. Last year Force India surprised us by producing the fastest car of the weekend. Giancarlo Fisichella scored pole position and second place.

This time the pressure is on rainmeister Adrian Sutil to deliver another big points haul. This year's car is an improvement on last year's and should remain quick in low downforce trim. But beating Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren is a big ask. If he does, it would be the German's first victory.


Yesterday, it was his countryman Michael Schumacher who was in centre stage at the FIA presser. Spa is perhaps the most important circuit of Schumacher's career. "It's often called my living room," he confirms. He made his debut here back in 1991, took his first win here a year later, and counts 1995 as one of his finest races. He drove from 16th on the grid to first. "The situation wasn't so different from the one we face this weekend. It's going to be tough, but mixed weather will help."


Realistically, going by recent form, Michael will struggle just to break into the top ten. Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Fernando Alonso have all been competitive here in the past but none have won the Belgian Grand Prix yet. Hamilton did so on the track in 2008 but had his trophy taken from him for passing under yellows.


The championship's top five drivers are all skilled wet weather racers, and if the conditions do prove changeable that will play into Jenson Button's hands. He's almost psychic at knowing where the grip is. However, Spa demands an aggressive approach and Button has been a bit of a shrinking violet in recent rounds. He hasn't been on the podium since Valencia four races ago.

Vettel needs to improve his conversion rate. He's scored seven poles this year but only won twice.

Mark Webber leads the championship, and with Monaco and Silverstone already on his roster of wins this year, Spa will be another formidable challenge the Australian is sure to rise to.

Mark came fourth in 2005 but hasn't worried the podium since. It's his 34th birthday today. Vettel says he forgot to buy his Red Bull team-mate a present but "they have these little bottles of shampoo in the hotel. Shh... Don't tell him!"

Webber isn't the only guy celebrating this weekend. It's Rubens Barrichello's 300th grand prix. Schumacher says he sent him a text to congratulate him, and to apologize for the Hungary incident.



And while I might be a long way off Rubens total, this is my 100th grand prix weekend!

The F1 fraternity have arrived back at work reinvigorated, some taking holidays in sunny climes, others taking a rare opportunity to hang out at home and catch up with mates.

Neither was on the cards for me. The August break has been flat out. After Hungary I grabbed a couple of days at home and then drove to Hockenheim for the DTM/F3 weekend there.

Then I had to travel to the UK for a day to interview the chief designer for Lotus Cars.

Then it was off to New York for a week, where I'm making a new magazine. New York would usually be a right laugh, but we were there to put the first issue to bed and that meant long days stuck in an office and not sampling much of the nightlife.

 

Once I was back from there, it was straight off to Zandvoort for the next DTM/F3 round. I spent Sunday night in Amsterdam, where there was the big tall ships regatta they hold every five years there, and then drove to Oschersleben in northern Germany to test a Volkswagen Scirocco R Cup car.

Then I drove to Berlin and stayed the night there with an F1 mate before driving the seven hour schlep to Belgium.

I'm embarrassed to say it was my first trip to Berlin. Always wanted to go, but never had an excuse before. Actually, last year en route to the Nurburgring Will Buxton and I had planned to go, to attend Petra Ecclestone's fashion show. However, this was canceled with 24hrs notice after Bernie made his infamous Hitler remarks. So that one was knocked on the head.

My mate Tara, who looks after various teams and sponsors organizing events, lives in a building designed by Le Corbusier, who I'm a big fan of. Here's a pic:



On Wednesday morning I took a trip into town to see Checkpoint Charlie, the Brandenburg Gate, Alexanderplatz etc. The place looks fascinating and I'm definitely coming back soon for a proper explore. I also went to see what's left of Avus. It's now a public highway.


While driving down the Friedrichstrasse (Berlin's main fashion street) I actually drove onto a movie set and spotted Til Schweiger (from Inglorious Basterds). The film will be called Kokowaah - so when it comes out have your eyes peeled for a gold Corsa with a Dutch number plate.



I'm staying in Geel which is just ten minutes from Zolder! It's about 1hr 30 from Spa, so a long way, but it's where my mate Yves lives and it's good to catch up with him. He's also got the complete set of Entourage, so that's the next few nights taken care of.

Niki Lauda is terrified of horses. Fact. It's all to do with a run in he had with a stallion at Monza one year. I'm not quite sure if it bit him or what. But I do know he took a mauling last week by the teeth of Ferrari's rather unguarded blog, which goes by the name The Horse Whisperer. The official blog responded to Niki's public view that Ferrari were wrong to issue team orders in Germany, and are going to "get a pasting" at the WMSC hearing.

Ferrari have accused the triple-champ of missing out on "a fine opportunity to keep his mouth shut". And go on to point out that he never complained when he was getting the preferential treatment at the Scuderia.

Which is, of course, a fair point. But it doesn't make what Ferrari did admissible.

We've had a month now to reflect on Hockenheim. We know that team orders are rife and difficult to police. It's generally good for the teams (unless they're exposed, which is damaging to their brand and sponsors). It's not so good for the sport.

People have pointed to McLaren, who escaped so much as an investigation when they ordered David Coulthard to yield for Mika Hakkinen at Jerez '97. Those directions were all to be heard on the radio. Others have hit out at Eddie Jordan for criticizing Ferrari, in light of the orders that were issued at Spa '98. But that was different, because Ralf Schumacher was instructed to hold station and not attempt to pass Damon Hill for the lead. Jordan did not order a change of position. That's just risk management.

And Couthard and Hakkinen, at Jerez, didn't trade the lead - they were second and third at the time. Should that make a difference? Probably not, but it isn't as in your face as a change of position for the lead.

I think the WMSC need to consider this now and in future. Team orders can be tolerated to an extent, but when you're changing the lead - manipulating the result, to use an Alonso phrase (ironically) - you really are sticking two fingers up at the sport.

So it needs to be communicated to the teams that orders at the very front will not be tolerated. I have to say - and I've said it already - a $100,000 fine isn't sufficient. That won't even buy you the engine in a 458 Italia. But I disagree with Lauda - I believe the FIA will want every one to move on, and will therefore sweep it under the carpet.

If you want to curb team orders - and I think we're agreed this is what the public wishes to see - you need to ban pit-car radios.

I like having the radio transmissions broadcast, it provides some interesting insight and often some juicy quotes. But teams are able to use imaginative codes.

A ban on radios wouldn't prevent teams briefing their drivers beforehand: "Felipe, if Fernando is behind you, you pull over. Capiche?" But without the instruction being repeated in the race, in the heat of the moment, only a complete doormat of a driver would agree to relinquish the lead. Felipe had to be told to yield repeatedly before he actually did so.

Of course, going back to Coulthard and Hakkinen, DC did hand the Finn the lead in Melbourne '98, on the basis of their "gentlemen's agreement" without any radio encouragement. Doormat or honorable chap, it's open to interpretation. I'm sure Coulthard felt it was the best career move.

But I think a proper racing driver should be prepared to piss on his own chips if he's got a victory in sight.

Formula One has gone on holiday, and in Budapest we had the traditional Sunday night dance floor merriment before heading off for some much needed respite. Well, some did...

I chose to spend my post-Hungary weekend at the Nurburgring. Actually, that's not true. I chose to spend it at Zandvoort but when I called 'my driver' (which is how I like to refer to him because it sounds like I have a chauffeur, rather than someone I write press releases for) to say "hey, I'm coming to see you race at Zandvoort tomorrow" he was concerned. "It's the Nurburgring we're going to," he said. "Really?" I asked. "Yeah", he said. "Are you sure?" I asked. "Have you already booked your ticket?" he giggled, and then I realized I'd managed to cock up my entire August calendar.

The drama didn't stop there. The next day I rented a car - a Renault Twingo - and drove it the five hour distance from Paris to The Green Hell, bound for DTM and F3 action. When I got there, I pulled into the petrol station beside the media accreditation place. A sticker on the outside of the fuel filler cap said 'Diesel'. Well done Europcar, hearty congratulations. When you stick a diesel sticker on an unleaded car, what do you think is going to happen? I was a fiver's worth in when I finally spotted the tiny 'Unleaded' lettering on the inside of the cap. "Bollocks!"

It may have been a mistake, or it may have been sabotage, I couldn't be sure. I found myself cursing and laughing at the same time.

There was no hose to be found, to help suck the wrong petroleum out of the Twingo's tank. Instead, I adopted a risky strategy by dumping 50 Euros worth of unleaded on top of the diesel, shook the car a bit to mix, and hoped for the best.

Next up was the ultimate test: the mighty Nordschleife. There's nothing big or clever about pounding around the 12.9 mile widow maker in a GT3 Porsche. No-sir-ree-Bob. It's a much bigger test of one's balls to drive around it in a 1.2 litre shopping trolley, which may or may not conk out at any minute due to its highly original fuel mixture.

The Nurburgring is a scary place, not least because these 'tourist' days see fast cars, slow cars, and drivers with absolutely no idea what they're doing. Every day, dozens of cars -often worth 100s of grand - are binned. And once you enter onto the track, your insurance is no longer valid.

It's staggering how easy it is to take your car on there. You don't have to sign a waiver or anything. Within two minutes of paying my 22 Euros, I was out on the circuit staring into my rearview mirror in horror as M3s and AMGs hunted me down like a goldfish in a shark pool. I honestly cannot believe this is legal!

By the end of the lap, having been passed by a dozen cars and bikes at blistering speed, my hands were shaking like a leaf.

Not only did the little Renault complete the course without any jitters (more than can be said of the driver), it did so in 13 minutes. Perhaps a record for the slowest car ever around the old circuit.

Still, it was a miracle it started at all after what I put it through. Click below to see a video of the lap recorded by my friend Emma. And apologies for all the swearing:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Driven-Communications/158741263714

Sebastian Vettel was incredulous when he heard he'd been handed a drive-thru penalty. "Why?" he cried, and waved his fist in frustration as he crawled down the pitlane, handing position to Fernando Alonso. "I know you're upset, we're all upset, but remember there's nothing you can say now that is going to change anything. Take a deep breath," advised his engineer, Rocky.

Vettel had been flying. He led the race from pole, while Red Bull team mate Mark Webber lost out on the dirty side of the grid and was passed into Turn 1 by Alonso. Vettel was pulling a second a lap ahead of the Ferrari. Then the Safety Car appeared on lap 23, due to debris on track. Vettel took the last minute decision to pit, and Alonso did the same  - much to Webber's relief. "We had to go off strategy and do something different," he explained.

At the restart, Vettel wasn't paying attention. For being more than ten car lengths behind Webber, the stewards penalized him. "The radio connection was lost and I was sleeping. I was waiting for instruction of when the Safety Car would come in. I didn't see the lights. Mark would usually drop back when the Safety Car is coming in, and he was close up. I was caught out."

It was an expensive mistake, for Vettel was easily on course to win this race but his drive-thru put him behind second placed Alonso. "It would have been a walk in the park, but it didn't happen. Fernando was faster on the straights so it was impossible to pass."

After the Safety Car, Webber pushed unbelievably hard for 27 laps to build a 23 second gap that would allow him to pit and return to the lead.

"The front left was completely finished. I knew once I got the primes on, with the others having done 20-odd laps, it was in the bag. I was gifted this one, but I haven't had many of them so I'll happily take it."

Webber now leads the championship on 161 points, four points ahead of Lewis Hamilton who retired with gearbox problems. Red Bull also jump ahead of McLaren in the constructors' tally. Vettel is now third on 151. On the podium, the German stared at the ground scowling while his team mate celebrated. For him, the Australian national anthem sounded like nails on a chalkboard.

Much talk in the paddock about whether Red Bull's flexi-wing is legal, given the 1.2 second gap in quali between pole man Vettel and P3's Alonso. The FIA says it's kosher, and while there may be a clarification on the rule next week, it seems almost certain today will be one of Austro-German celebration.

Webber couldn't match his team mate. His second place was 4/10ths off.

It's making by £10 bet on Felipe Massa look like a waste of hard-earned. I mentioned my wager to Karun Chandhok yesterday, before qualifying. "That was f**king stupid," he said sagely.

Last night I went down to Formula BMW's Saturday night BBQ, and Vettel was there. He's carried a bit of a frown oftentimes this year, but last night he was surrounded by old friends laughing and joking along.