Mar.10 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he is determined to make 2016 “my year”, after two consecutive championship defeats to his teammate Lewis Hamilton.
The Mercedes driver said the lowest point came in Austin, where he threw away a race win – and later his cap – allowing Hamilton to wrap up the title with three races to spare.
“That was a very, very tough moment,” German Rosberg recalled during an interview with the broadcaster RTL.
“But I was also able to fight back again with three wins consecutively and very dominantly,” he said.
“It was cool to do that and now I have tried as much as possible to carry it over to this year. But unfortunately that is difficult to do as the car is new, the situation is new,” Rosberg acknowledged.
Some believe Rosberg only faltered because the hard-partying Hamilton lost his focus in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
But the 30-year-old said he is determined to keep beating Briton Hamilton.
“It is good that my teammate sets such a high benchmark,” said Rosberg. “If I beat him all the time, the challenge would no longer be interesting.”
So can 2016 really be the season in which Rosberg emerges as champion?
“Who knows,” he answers. “It’s a fact that Lewis has beaten me for three years, unfortunately. So it’s a great challenge.
“But I have often managed to beat him over long periods, but not for an entire season. It has been close, though.
“In 2014, for example, the title was decided in the last race. I just need a clean season.
“I’m sure it will be a good season, with the lineup that we have and the form that I have had. Whether it will be enough to be first place for me or not, I still have to wait. It’s still in the stars,” Rosberg added.