Rosberg accepts fate
November 7, 2014
Miracles can happen. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg accepts, however, that he needs something spectacular to occur over the last two of this year if he is to have any chance of beating Lewis Hamilton in this year's Formula One's drivers' championship.
The German trails the Brit by 24 points with this weekend's race in Brazil preceding the climax in Abu Dhabi where double points are up for grabs. That means 75 points are still available before November 23's dramatic conclusion.
But to have any serious chance of pipping Hamilton, Rosberg needs a win in Brazil. He's started with purpose, finishing the quickest in the first practice on Friday in Sao Paulo. The 29-year-old had the fastest lap on a dry track at one minute and 12 seconds, around two tenths of a second faster than his rival Hamilton.
"It's clear that I need to rely on something happening," Rosberg said. "For sure, it's not enough for me to win, unfortunately, but that's the way it is. In sports, so much can happen, so I'm still very optimistic."
Hamilton closing in on title
Even though Hamilton didn't complete three races this season due to technical faults, the Mercedes driver has won the last five races and bagged 10 in total this campaign. He's now outright the most successful British driver in Formula One history with 32 wins.
Until now, Rosberg has maintained a dignified stance in his head-to-head battle with Mercedes team-mate Hamilton. The two appear to have a positive relationship and despite suggestions that the Englishman was even more motivated after their minor crash in Belgium, Rosberg reacted with an upbeat manner when asked about it this week.
"Did he say we are at war?" laughed Rosberg. "I don't know what his exact opinion is on things, but for me nothing has changed.
"It was a very intense competition and it is the same now."
Meanwhile, on Friday, the London-based administrators of British team Marussia confirmed the company has now ceased to continue trading and more than 200 staff would be made redundant. They had already missed last weekend's US Grand Prix. The last time Marussia participated in a race was in October at the Russian Grand Prix in Sochi.
rd/al (AP, AFP, Reuters)