Rosberg determined to keep title bid alive

Mercedes driver hopes to close gap on leader Hamilton in Russia.

SOCHI: Nico Rosberg is heading into this weekend’s Russian Grand Prix determined to keep alive his bid for the drivers’ world title by beating defending two-time champion and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton on a track that may throw up tyre problems for most teams.

The 30-year-old German, who is 48 points adrift of the Briton after winning three races, to Hamilton’s eight this season, said he feels he has enough positive feelings to draw on to justify his optimism as he prepares for a keenly-anticipated contest.

“Once I got back from Japan, I was able to focus on the positive elements from my weekend in Suzuka,” explained Rosberg.

“Pole position, the on-track pass on [Valtteri] Bottas and then having the speed to undercut [Sebastian] Vettel’s Ferrari at the second pit-stop...

“I’m not backing down in my fight for the championship and gaining those positions back fair and square showed that. We have five races to go and, although the championship gap to Lewis is quite big, in my mind it’s definitely not over yet.”

Rosberg’s bright approach may need to be considered carefully against the possibility, as expressed by Mercedes executive director Paddy Lowe that unexpected behavior by the team’s tyres could cause problems in Sunday’s second race on the hybrid semi-street circuit built in the Olympic Park created for the 2014 Winter Games.

Lowe and the Mercedes team bounced back to form at the Japanese Grand Prix after a curiously off-target performance in Singapore where Ferrari, and four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel, capitalised on their difficulties.

Vettel secured his third win of his maiden season with Ferrari and now has 218 points, only 11 fewer than Rosberg on 229, while Hamilton leads the way with 277.

And Ferrari’s resurgence could make them a threat again in Russia as they bid to ensure they retain second in the constructors’ championship behind Mercedes, but ahead of Williams.

The pace of Ferrari and Williams has left Red Bull struggling in fourth ahead of Force India as Formula One endures a torrid period of insecurity amid rumours and speculation about its rocky future ahead and many teams struggling to survive.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 9^th, 2015.

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