Tire management, not driver skill, now defines F1 as a sport

F1 has become a tire charade, 100% about tire management, 0% about driver skill. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg is expecting the struggle with Pirelli's new-for-2013 tyre compounds to continue at this weekend's Bahrain Grand Prix, after the majority of the field endured extreme degradation on the Soft rubber at the Shanghai circuit.

The German, who ultimately retired in China due to an anti-roll bar issue, is eager to bounce back in the Gulf State and is hopeful of achieving a large points haul.

"I'll be really happy to get back in the car again on Friday after a tough weekend in Shanghai," said Rosberg. "The first three races haven't quite worked out as we had hoped on my side but the positive is that we have a car that we can really work with.

"It's going to be very tough on the rear tyres and our biggest challenge will be to make the most out of the situation. We're better prepared than we were last year and we have shown that the car is much stronger so I really hope that we can achieve a great result in Bahrain."