I would say that using the wording destroyed might be a bit strong, the only years that sort of qualifies for that epithet as I see it are.
2009 Rosberg 34.5 - Nakajima 0
2010 Rosberg 142 - Schumacher 72
2012 Rosberg 93 - Schumacher 49
The points scored aren't the best indicator to compare teammates In F1 cars that cannot score points regularly.
By memory, those years, Rosberg was clearly the fastest driver, except his rookie year.
In the quali head to head battle (approximately) :
(in his rookie year) 2006 : NR vs Webber 6/12 (1/6 in the first 7 races and 5/6 in the last 11 races)
2007 : NR vs wurz : 13/3 (wurz was replaced by nakajima in the last grand prix)
2008 : NR vs Nakajima : 14/4
2009 :NR vs NAkajima : 14/4
2010 : NR vs schumi :16/3
2011 : NR vs schumi : 17/2
2012 : NR vs Schumi : 10/10 ( after having announced his retirement, there was a diminished pressure on teammate battle and from memory the team started testing different configurations on cars for the next season )
Furthermore, i remember rosberg being often close to button, when the mclaren was superior, wich was an indicator it wasn't going to be funny for lewis against him.
In 2009 Nico scored 34,5 points to 0 for Nakajima. But he managed to beat the bmw of heidfeld and Kubica with an inferior car, and from memory, he was the best overtaker of the year.
When lewis said he was hungrier, i thought it wasn't totally right. In all his years, nico had to prove his speed. In his first years because of his name. Than, when mercedes signed a 7 times word champion, it was a tricky situation as he could more loose than win. He once again had to prove his worth against lewis and endured extreme pressure from brawn in the first races (team orders)
In conclusion, while Lewis on the same period was justly considered as the fastest man of the grid, under the spotlight, Nico rosberg was impressive too.
Edited by malibu, 27 June 2014 - 00:32.