Following his triumph at the inaugural European Grand Prix in Azerbaijan, the pendulum of momentum has swung back in Nico Rosberg's direction.
Here, Press Association Sport assesses the German's championship lead over his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton and the other big talking points heading into Sunday's Austrian Grand Prix.
1. Hamilton an engineer in his own downfall?
Rosberg arrives in Austria with a 24-point lead over Hamilton courtesy of his victory on the streets of Baku a fortnight ago. Hamilton crossed the line only in fifth after he spent a large chunk of the race in the wrong engine mode. While Hamilton's Mercedes team were prepared to take the blame, is it a surprise that it took the world champion 12 laps to fix the issue? Yes, according to at least one driver, who privately expressed his disbelief that Hamilton appeared totally confused by the situation.
2. Rosberg nearing new contract extension at Mercedes
The Austrian Grand Prix is not a happy hunting ground for Hamilton. Indeed it remains one of the few tracks on the Formula One calender where he is yet to open his winning account. In stark contrast, Rosberg, who celebrated his 31st birthday earlier this week, is bidding for a hat-trick of consecutive victories at a circuit which returned to the schedule in 2014. Rosberg could also soon be celebrating a new two-year deal with Mercedes. The German is out of contract at the end of the year, but Niki Lauda, Mercedes' non-executive chairman recently told Bild: "We have pretty much agreed on a new two-year contract but still have to work on the details."
3. Ecclestone may reduce F1 calendar in 2017
Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone has been causing a bit of mischief this week by suggesting there may only be 18 grands prix next season, with races in Canada, Italy and Germany apparently facing the chop. It was a claim put forward by Ecclestone, 85, in Baku, but when asked by Press Association Sport whether there would really only be 18 races in 2017, Ecclestone, to much amusement, replied: "No. I said it could be, which it could be, if we cancel three."
4. McLaren eye Mercedes challenge.next year
While the once-mighty McLaren are no longer toiling at the back of the field, the British team are hardly challenging the front of the pack either. Indeed some cruel voices in the paddock have rendered them largely irrelevant in 2016 with Fernando Alonso and Jenson Button spending much of the campaign occupying the midfield spots. Button has scored a paltry five points this year. Yet Eric Boullier, the team's racing director, fancies McLaren could challenge Mercedes next term. "I think we will get closer," he told Motorsport.com. "I don't know if we will match them, I hope so, but we will get very close."
5. Youngsters set to make their mark
Charles Leclerc will take to a Formula One cockpit for the first time in opening practice for the British Grand Prix for Haas. Monaco-born Leclerc, a member of the Ferrari driver academy who looks every inch his tender 18 years, will also participate in practice at the Hungarian, German, Malaysian and Abu Dhabi Grands Prix. Meanwhile, Brazilian racer Sergio Sette Camara, 18, will also be handed his F1 bow with Toro Rosso during practice for the upcoming race at Silverstone. The move will be seen as a further indication that Daniil Kvyat, demoted to Toro Rosso from Red Bull earlier this year, is likely to end up on the F1 scrapheap come the end of the season.
Source: PA
