The Pressure Gauge – Pre Canadian GP

Gabriel Polychronis is a motorsport enthusiast, taking a particularly strong interest in Formula One. Gabriel shares his opinions via F1 News & Views Podcast along with his brother, Jacob.

June 8th, 2012 (F1plus / Gabriel Polychronis).- The Pressure Gauge is a segment that is run on each preview edition of F1 News & Views. It is designed to analyse how much pressure certain drivers are currently bearing.

The Pressure Gauge Levels: Stone-cold, Low, Medium, High, Extreme.
 

Nico Rosberg – Low: Nico Rosberg has been constantly out performing his fellow German teammate, Michael Schumacher. With Rosberg winning in China, gaining second place in Monaco and Schumacher only finishing two of the six races this season, it is safe to say that Rosberg is currently carrying a small amount of pressure. This means that we are categorizing Rosberg in the low level on thePressure Gauge.

Bruno Senna – High: Bruno Senna has only claimed fifteen points this season, while his Venezuelan teammate has already bagged a race victory. Williams have proved that they have a competitive car this season and Senna needs to join Maldonado in converting that on the track, otherwise, he sits in the High pressure zone.

Fernando Alonso – Stone Cold: Alonso is currently leading the drivers’ championship by three points and has outraced his Brazillian teammate in all six races. This has truly earned Alonso the Stone Cold level on the pressure gauge. Alonso has been driving at an outstanding level, a level that could see him further ahead in the drivers’ standings, however, Ferrari are not providing him a car to allow him to do so. The pressure is in fact on Ferrari as a team to improve if they are to maintain Alonso as a driver in future years to come.

Jenson Button – Extreme: Eighteenth, ninth, and sixteenth. These are the results of Button’s last three races, compared to Lewis Hamilton’s: eighth, eighth and fifth. It is looking grim for Button in terms of points, as he is a full thirty-one points behind leader, Fernando Alonso and eighteen points behind his teammate in fourth. Button desperately needs to convert some high-ranking points soon, and there is no better opportunity than at the McLaren suited Canadian Grand Prix. Button, for now, is feeling Extreme pressure.

Review of previously ranked drivers:

• Sebastian Vettel – Extreme
• Felipe Massa – Extreme to High
• Jean Eric-Vergne – Extreme
• Kimi Räikkönen – High