Abu Dhabi: Nico Rosberg pledged to “give it everything” in his quest to win his maiden Formula One world title next year after powering to his third successive race victory at the season-ending Formula One Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.
The delighted German said he was going “to party tonight” after again outperforming Mercedes teammate, Lewis Hamilton, who finished second ahead of Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen in what was his first triumph at Yas Marina Circuit.
It was also the first time he has won three races in a row and helped him ease the misery of last year’s Abu Dhabi GP, when he lost the world title to race winner Hamilton in the final GP of the season. This followed problems with his engine recovery system, which badly affected his car and saw him limp home in a dismal 14th place.
Meanwhile, Hamilton has not triumphed since wrapping up his third world title at the US Grand Prix three races ago, so can Rosberg build on his ascendancy and supersede the Briton as world champion?
“It was a great victory and I am feeling very happy,” Rosberg said in the post-race press conference. “Unfortunately, 2016 is so far away but I am just enjoying the now and the wins.
“I am going to party tonight. I am enjoying my form and how I have progressed to the end of the season. I can’t tell you about next year unfortunately, but I will give it everything.”
However, Hamilton insisted he would go into the festive break in better spirits than his teammate. “I think being a world champion sounds a lot better than winning a race,” the Briton said, provoking a wry smile from Rosberg beside him.
Hamilton had been chasing a 44th grand prix victory, of special significance because all weekend he has been promoting the 44th UAE National Day on December 2 and 44 is his car number. “I’m grateful to be associated with the 44th UAE National Day, but I am still going for my 44th win. I’m quite happy with the amount of wins I’ve had.
“Hopefully, I’ll have another three years with this team and come back fit and healthy next year.”
Would the pair, who have endured an often fractious relationship, be exchanging Christmas presents? “May be a Christmas card,” Rosberg replied.
“I don’t think we have ever done either [a present or a card], so no reason to change,” Hamilton said.
Meanwhile, Raikkonen said leapfrogging compatriot Valtteri Bottas — who finished 13th — to secure fourth place in the drivers’ championship “doesn’t make an awful lot of difference to me”.
“I think the whole year the team has been quite good compared to last year, which was not so good for me,” the 2007 world champion, who finished 12th last year and secured his third podium finish of the season, said. “It’s never nice to finish third, but I will take it after previous races.”
