Rosberg defends ‘understandable’ tactics of arch-rival

Hamilton, who drove superbly in the wet to finish first at the Brazilian Grand Prix, was in no doubt of the scale of the task he faced, telling the formula1.com website: “It’s not been a ideal season and I’m faced with pretty impossible odds no matter what I do this weekend”.

On Wednesday he added: “When we first brought Lewis and Nico together as our driver pairing back in 2013, we made it clear that there would be no number one status for either of them – and they didn’t want that either”.

NICO ROSBERG SAYS it is “virtually impossible” to have a close relationship with Lewis Hamilton due to their Formula One rivalry within the Mercedes team.

Sir Jackie Stewart has labelled Lewis Hamilton a “little ballerina” for his tactics at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, which he believes warranted a punishment from Mercedes. “It will now take some time for him to process this”, Rosberg said.

Rosberg and Wolff were in Kuala Lumpur attending a celebratory event by Petronas – the state oil firm and the Malaysian race’s title sponsor which also backs the Mercedes team.

Nico Rosberg celebrated his second place finish in Abu Dhabi with a handful of donuts, throwing up tyre smoke and putting down rubber as he whooped over the radio. All I have had to do is drive the auto quickly and score wins or good results.

Much of the discussion after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, in which Hamilton led Rosberg home, was focused on Hamilton backing up the field.

“I think everyone has thought Hamilton is quicker and it is probably hard to question that, but I think Rosberg has done well this year to be in his position”. He only does 21 races a year. Keke was our world champion in 1982 and I think to achieve that and to step out of someone’s shadow, it’s not easy.

But autosport.com, citing Mercedes, and multiple British newspapers said the Briton felt unwell after his early runs so the team drafted in reserve Pascal Wehrlein, who was on standby.

Speaking at a press conference in Wiesbaden, he said: “My joy was even greater after the race because it was so tough”, he said.

When justifying his own decision to stick with 44 in 2015, Hamilton claimed having the number one on the auto was “irrelevant” as his rivals knew who the world champion was.