Nico Rosberg, the last driver to defeat Lewis Hamilton in a title battle, has predicted his former rival and teammate will come out on top against Max Verstappen this weekend.
The Formula One season goes down to the wire in this Sunday's Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, with Hamilton and Verstappen level on points going into the season's final race.
Hamilton has won the last four drivers' championships and the 36-year-old Mercedes driver is chasing a record eighth crown, with the Dutchman, 24, his first.
The pair have collided three times already and are level on points going into the final race — only the second time that has happened and first since 1974 — with Verstappen 9-8 ahead on wins.
In 2016, Rosberg sealed the title in Abi Dhabi ahead of Hamilton — then his Mercedes teammate — and retired days later. The German believes Hamilton has hit form at the right time but knows the pressure the duo will be under all too well.
“Lewis is on fire, he has such great form, winning three [races] in a row and he’s brought it into free practice here,” Rosberg told Sky Sports on Saturday. “You kind of feel he has to be a little bit the favourite at the moment.
“I was in such a title battle in 2016 and it’s a lot, just the intensity. The nerves. Someone like Max, from outside sometimes you think ‘This guy doesn’t even get nervous’ but that’s not true. Inside we’re still all humans … and both of them will be on the edge of their seats this weekend.”
Rosberg described trying to get some sleep ahead of the race five years ago in Abu Dhabi as “an absolute disaster” and even eating food became a problem.
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ABU DHABI PODIUM: 2024: 1) Lando Norris (McLaren) 2) Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari) 3) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Chris Whiteoak / The National -
Lando Norris sealed his first ever victory at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in 2024. Chris Whiteoak / The National -
2023: 1) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 3) George Russell (Mercedes). Getty Images -
Max Verstappen secured a fourth consecutive Abu Dhabi Grand Prix win in 2023. Victor Besa / The National -
2022: 1). Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari) 3) Sergio Perez (Redd Bull). Getty Images -
Max Verstappen on his way to a third Abu Dhabi GP victory in a row in 2022. Getty Images -
2021: 1) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 3) Carlos Sainz Jr (Ferrari). Reuters -
Max Verstappen on his way to victory in the 2021 Abu Dhabi GP that saw the Dutchman edge out Lewis Hamilton for the title at Yas Marina Circuit. EPA -
2020: 1) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 2) Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 3) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes). Getty -
Dutch driver Max Verstappen on his way to victory at the Yas Marina Circuit on December 13, 2020. AFP -
2019: 1) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2) Max Verstappen (Red Bull) 3) Charles Leclerc (Ferrari). Getty -
British driver Lewis Hamilton crosses the finish line to win the Abu Dhabi GP on December 1, 2019. AP -
2018: 1) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2) Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) 3) Max Verstappen (Red Bull). Reuters -
British driver Lewis Hamilton on his way to victory at Yas Marina Circuit on November 25, 2018. EPA -
2017: 1) Valtteri Bottas (Mercedes) 3) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2) Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari). Getty -
Valtteri Bottas of Finland on his way to victory at Yas Marina Circuit in Abu Dhabi on November 26, 2017. Christopher Pike / The National -
2016: 1) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 3) Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari). AFP -
Lewis Hamilton wins the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 27, 2016. AFP Photo -
2015: 1) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes) 2) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 3) Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari). -
German driver Nico Rosberg on his way to victory at Yas Marina Circuit on November 29, 2015. Christopher Pike / The National -
2014: 1) Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) 2) Felipe Massa (Williams) 3) Valtteri Bottas (Williams). Christopher Pike / The National -
British driver Lewis Hamilton races to victory at Yas Marina Circuit on November 23, 2014. Christopher Pike / The National -
2013: 1) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 2) Mark Webber (Red Bull) 3) Nico Rosberg (Mercedes). -
German driver Sebastian Vettel on his way to victory at Yas Marina Circuit on November 3, 2013. Christopher Pike / The National -
2012) 1) Kimi Raikkonen (Lotus) 2) Fernado Alonso (Ferrari) 3) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull). Reuters -
Finnish driver Kimi Raikkonen leads the field on his way to victory at Yas Marina Circuit on November 4, 2012. Reuters -
2011: 1) Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 2) Fernando Alonso (Ferrari) 3) Jenson Button (McLaren) Pawan Singh / The National -
British driver Lewis Hamilton wins at Yas Marina Circuit on November 13, 2011. Pawan Singh / The National -
2010: 1) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 2) Lewis Hamilton (McLaren) 3) Jenson Button (McLaren). Andrew Henderson / The National -
German driver Sebastian Vettel on his way to victory at Yas Marina Circuit on November 14, 2010. Andrew Henderson / The National -
2009: 1) Sebastian Vettel (Red Bull) 2) Mark Webber (Red Bull) 3) Jenson Button (Brawn). Stephen Lock / The National -
German driver Sebastian Vettel on his way to victory in the inaugural Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on November 1, 2009. Stephen Lock / The National
“It was like two, maximum three, hours per night. I couldn’t even eat properly. The food wouldn’t go down. So I had to revert back to my childhood food which was Frosties and milk,” he said. “That was the only thing that would go down.
“And it’s all these troubles that you are then fighting throughout the weekend, you just have to try and spare the energy to when it matters.”
Rosberg also described Hamilton as a skilled operator when it comes to dealing with the media. “The media game is something you have to play if you want to win a world championship. It’s always like that because the media has such a power, even internally in the team,” said Rosberg.
“Lewis is very, very good at that. His latest strategy has been to stay out of things, stay very low profile and just let the attention and pressure build on Max’s shoulders. And that has worked very well.
“Christian has to try and do what he can because for young Max it’s the first time he’s in a championship fight. It’s a big ask, against one of the greatest of all time.”
