Jul.2 (GMM) Lewis Hamilton may be in the “public eye”, but Nico Rosberg has vowed to keep his eye on the world championship.
Bernie Ecclestone said recently Rosberg is “not good for business”.
“I took that with a pinch of salt,” said the German ahead of the British grand prix.
“He was comparing me with Lewis,” Rosberg told the Guardian. “Bernie is the commercial rights holder, so what he wants is the drivers to be out there in the public eye. Because that promotes the sport.
“That’s what Lewis does more than me,” he insisted.
However, 1996 world champion Damon Hill warned this week that Hamilton appears to have got his private life out of balance with his professional focus.
“I’m worried about his lifestyle,” Hill told Kolner Express tabloid. “He’s at boxing matches, fashion shows, concerts, but I’m afraid you have to sacrifice some of that laid-back lifestyle.
“You can’t have it both ways,” he warned.
Ahead of his Mercedes teammate’s home race at Silverstone, then, Rosberg appears to agree that focusing on the job should be the priority.
He said “focus is extremely important”.
“I notice that if I have a bit too much going on, left and right, it can influence my race driving performance. You have to be 100 per cent present when you are doing it,” Rosberg insisted.
He said the way he chooses to engage with the fans is via social media.
“I try to do my part,” said Rosberg. “It’s a pity how much drivers have criticised their own sport.”