News
10th November 2014, 16:10
Brazilian Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg is hoping that Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton's half-spin in Sunday's race at Interlagos could knock the Briton's confidence and assist his own bid to clinch the 2014 drivers' championship.
Rosberg goes into the Abu Dhabi decider with a 17-point deficit to Hamilton, meaning the latter can afford to finish second to Rosberg there and still clinch the title. But while Rosberg accepts the situation is out of his hands, he says Hamilton's error could highlight a possible weakness in his rival.
"We saw he made a mistake, so anything can happen in the last race," Rosberg said of Hamilton's off, which came midway through his race-long pursuit of the German. "It's good to see - I hope it has slightly dented his confidence. Mental [strength] is a big part of the sport, that's for sure.
"I need to win Abu Dhabi and hope for some help from Lewis - it is close, but he must not finish higher than third in Abu Dhabi. It's difficult with the car we have. Maybe Williams can do a lucky strike or something.
"It's going to be a great battle. Lewis is a great competitor and always on the edge, so it will be an exciting race to watch in Abu Dhabi."
Rosberg insisted that learning from his defeat to Hamilton at the previous round in the United States - where he lost despite starting from pole - and improving as a driver, meant more than finally halting Hamilton's five-race winning streak.
"I don't like to speak so much about momentum, it's just learning and becoming a better driver and that's what I managed to do [in Brazil] so I'm happy about that,
More... (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/11/16622.html)
Rosberg goes into the Abu Dhabi decider with a 17-point deficit to Hamilton, meaning the latter can afford to finish second to Rosberg there and still clinch the title. But while Rosberg accepts the situation is out of his hands, he says Hamilton's error could highlight a possible weakness in his rival.
"We saw he made a mistake, so anything can happen in the last race," Rosberg said of Hamilton's off, which came midway through his race-long pursuit of the German. "It's good to see - I hope it has slightly dented his confidence. Mental [strength] is a big part of the sport, that's for sure.
"I need to win Abu Dhabi and hope for some help from Lewis - it is close, but he must not finish higher than third in Abu Dhabi. It's difficult with the car we have. Maybe Williams can do a lucky strike or something.
"It's going to be a great battle. Lewis is a great competitor and always on the edge, so it will be an exciting race to watch in Abu Dhabi."
Rosberg insisted that learning from his defeat to Hamilton at the previous round in the United States - where he lost despite starting from pole - and improving as a driver, meant more than finally halting Hamilton's five-race winning streak.
"I don't like to speak so much about momentum, it's just learning and becoming a better driver and that's what I managed to do [in Brazil] so I'm happy about that,
More... (http://www.formula1.com/news/headlines/2014/11/16622.html)