The team ended “second in the constructors, won two grands prix, in Barcelona, Max the youngest ever victor in F1, Daniel achieving a one-two finish in Malaysia plus 14 other podiums, it’s been an incredible year for us”, said Horner. For the German, the days since his victory have come with some unbelievable emotions, adding, “I wasn’t expecting it at all and it just completely blew me away!”
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After over 200 starts across 11 seasons, Nico will finally get his hands on the coveted number one trophy, following in the footsteps of his father Keke Rosberg, who won the championship in 1982.
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”.
Nico Rosberg said he has “great respect” for Mercedes’ team-mate Lewis Hamilton but added that they don’t have a good relationship.
Stewart, Britain’s only other triple world champion, delivered his stinging verdict with Mercedes still deliberating as to what action they will take against Hamilton after he disobeyed orders in Abu Dhabi.
Rumours swirled the day after the race that Hamilton was on the verge of withdrawing from a Pirelli tyre test at Yas Marina because of the feud with team executives.
When asked if he looked like a future champion when he joined the team Williams, the deputy team principal, said: “Yeah, I think it was pretty clear”.
There has been discussion between fans and the media as to whether Hamilton’s tactics of backing the German up into his rivals were justified. “We were fighting for the championship, I was in the lead so I control the pace”.
“I can understand why he (Hamilton) drove like he drove, that was his instinct”.
“He needed to do it”.
Lewis Hamilton may no longer be the Formula 1 world champion, but the tactics he used in a bid to retain his title on Sunday (November 27th) are not an issue, Nico Rosberg has said.
Raikkonen’s Ferrari team-mate, Sebastian Vettel, also stressed that Rosberg did not luck in.
“It’s about the world championship so he made a decision to try everything out there”.
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Speaking at a press conference in Wiesbaden, he said: “My joy was even greater after the race because it was so tough”, he said.
