Nico Rosberg says that the tension with Lewis Hamilton is recent weeks is to be expected given that they are both fighting for the World Championship – and he adds that their relationship has has its ups and downs over the years.
“I didn’t see it as too unusual, we’ve always had periods when it was more difficult,” said Rosberg today. “We have that base respect that goes back 15 years, and that’s the important one, and as a result we always then discuss things and move on. And that’s how it’s been this time.
“It’s not changed in any way, it’s still the same as it used to be, so it’s not different. Of course, it’s more difficult, that’s clear. We’re fighting every single race weekend, it’s me against him, and there’s nobody else. That definitely makes it more difficult. There’s more at stake, there is the opportunity of winning the championship this year, and that’s the ultimate goal in racing. So there’s a lot at stake.”
Asked if he was surprised that there were flashpoints so early in the season, he said: “Am I surprised that we are having certain difficulties early on when we’re fighting for every race win? No. They’ve always been there, even back in go-karting we’ve had difficulties, because even then we were racing every time for the race wins. So I’m not surprised, no.”
He also admitted that the psychological aspect to their battle was important: “In sports the mental [side] is always a part, it’s always like that. It’s always there, and I do think about it. In sports that is a big factor, the mental side to it.”
Meanwhile Nico downplayed any comparisons with the Prost/Senna battle at McLaren.
“I have heard that, and in a way I’m honoured or whatever to hear those comparisons, because that was an extremely high level and big battle, leading the way at the time. But then I leave it at that. I don’t really compare myself at all to that era, I want to do my own thing and go my own way, and that’s it. I don’t read too much into it.”
Adam Cooper's F1 Blog 
… but from Canada onwards Seb will build up his fifth consecutive WDC.
As a betting man, I’d love to know the secret of your insider knowledge. Just a minor question, you have done the maths on the points difference, haven’t you?
Not a betting man, no insider knowledge, no fatalistic nonsense. Anyone breathing since 2007 is perfectly aware Seb delivers big time. Stay tuned.
Listen what Seb is saying http://www.formula1.com/news/interviews/2014/6/15908.html
He seems to be competing with Felipe Massa for the most excessive use of the phrase “for sure,” in an interview. 🙂
As I’ve said before, though Lewis has more raw talent, Nico seems to be more mature and mentally tough than Lewis, and his answer shows that and is rather refreshing in this age of coddled, cossetted prima donnas in firesuits who are constantly whinging about how they’ve been done wrong. I especially appreciate him dismissing the tedious comparisons. No matter how many times it’s brought up, Hamilton is no Senna, and Rosberg is not Prost, the story between them and their rivalry is different and perhaps more interesting in the long run than that of Senna and Prost.
Look where the Mercedes team was before Lewis got there. He clearly has brought this team to the top which lit as fire under Nicos ass. Lewis is the better driver and if novo didn’t pull that little funny stuff Monaco to make sure Lewis couldn’t get a last qualifying lap he would not have won the race as Lewis would have had the pole.