Abu Dhabi Grand Prix: Nico Rosberg enters final straight in F1 title race ready for ‘a big battle’

Nico Rosberg, the leader of the Formula One drivers’ championship, discusses his tactical approach as he bids to win his first world title on Sunday at the Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

12-point lead

The German driver stands on the threshold of winning his first drivers’ title on Sunday at Yas Marina Circuit. The Mercedes-GP man holds a 12-point lead over his teammate Lewis Hamilton going into the race weekend and if he finishes third or higher he will follow in the footsteps of his father, Keke, the 1982 world champion.

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Whittled down

Rosberg has finished second to Hamilton, the three-time champion, in the past three races in the United States, Mexico and Brazil, and has seen a lead of 33 points whittled down. But despite only needing a podium finish, Rosberg, 31, has vowed to go out and try to win the title in style by repeating his triumph of 12 months ago in Abu Dhabi.

Always a challenge

“I have to treat this like any other race,” Rosberg, who is in his 11th year in F1, said in a news release from Mercedes on Monday. “Nothing in this sport is easy, so this won’t be any different and I still have to go all out for a good result. I have great memories from winning at this track last year and it’s somewhere I’ve usually been strong in the past.”

Feeling excited

As to how he was handling his emotions and nerves ahead of the championship showdown, Rosberg, who missed out on the 2014 title in a final race decider to Hamilton in Abu Dhabi, added: “The closer it gets, the more I’m feeling excited. It will be a big battle and hopefully the fans will get a great show to end the year.”

Past record

Rosberg won last year’s race in Abu Dhabi ahead of Hamilton, and before that his previous best result at the venue was finishing third in 2013.

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