NOVEMBER 15, 2015

Rosberg happy to have Hamilton as teammate for life

Nico Rosberg is sure he can take on Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, insisting he is even prepared to spend the rest of his career as the triple world champion's teammate.

Nico Rosberg is sure he can take on Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, insisting he is even prepared to spend the rest of his career as the triple world champion's teammate.

Although the championship chase is over for 2015, German Rosberg on Saturday secured his fifth consecutive pole.

Asked if he can keep beating Hamilton, including to next year's world championship, he told Bild am Sonntag newspaper at Interlagos: "Of course I can.

"That's my challenge. At Mercedes I have the best car, the best team and I race against one of the best drivers. I see absolutely no reason to want to go somewhere else."

Rosberg signed a new multi-year contract last year, and Hamilton has spoken of staying with the Brackley team until the very end of his own career.

Asked if he can imagine never being paired with another teammate in F1, Rosberg said in Brazil: "I would be happy to. I wouldn't mind."

He said he feels sufficiently supported by Mercedes, "Otherwise I would not be here. I am glad that in Toto Wolff I have a boss with whom I can talk about anything."

Meanwhile, when asked if he is worried about Rosberg's run of good form, Hamilton answered on Saturday: "No.

"I've had the most poles of the year and I've won the world championship so there's nothing really to read into it.

"My main job is done this year, so it (winning in Brazil) is not the most important thing, but of course that's the target," added Hamilton.

But Rosberg said he is confident he has now turned the tide, particularly in qualifying.

"In the past I considered it one of my weaknesses and it was definitely one of the reasons why Lewis won the championship this year. So yes, I am pleased," he said on Saturday.

(GMM)