ABU DHABI // Nico Rosberg, acting on the advice of his world champion father, calmed his nerves and clinched pole position ahead of Mercedes-GP teammate Lewis Hamilton for Sunday's season-defining, title-deciding Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The German driver, son of 1982 Formula One champion Keke, clocked a fastest lap that was 0.386 seconds better than title rival Hamilton as the sun slipped below the horizon at Yas Marina Circuit last night.
Rosberg’s impressive flying lap was his 11th pole of the season and arrived on what is undoubtedly the most intense race weekend he has faced.
An insight into Rosberg’s eager mindset was clear to see when his radio engineer, Tony Ross, told him he had taken pole.
The 29-year-old driver responded by urging Ross to “be more enthusiastic, please”.
Hamilton, who leads the drivers’ championship standings by 17 points going into the season finale, remains in the driving seat, but his task has been made harder.
Courtesy of the Abu Dhabi race offering double points, Hamilton knows he has little margin for error: should Rosberg convert pole, Hamilton must finish second to secure a second world championship.
The 2008 world champion has looked composed all weekend, but there were hints yesterday that the occasion might be getting to him as he made two uncharacteristic errors and struggled to secure even second.
Valtteri Bottas of Williams finished just 0.159 slower after lagging in the final sector.
“It’s very intense,” Rosberg said. “Lewis has everything to lose and I have everything to gain.
“If Lewis feels the pressure here and makes a mistake as a result, that’s the sort of opportunity that I’m looking for and I’m trying to push for. I push flat out all the time to try and keep the level extremely high and that’s all I can do really.
“Try and go for the win and keep the pressure on.”
Hamilton dismissed any such concerns regarding pressure and anxiety and said he never pays much attention to Rosberg and his mind games, always sleeps like a baby and will be relaxed and ready to race come 5pm this afternoon.
“I didn’t really put a comfortable lap together, but it wasn’t really lots of mistakes or anything, it just wasn’t a great lap,” Hamilton said.
“Pole is a great thing and something every driver wants to get, but in F1 it’s not everything. I feel quite comfortable. Second is not a bad place to be and the best thing is I have the confidence I can race.”
Rosberg has spoken regularly this weekend about his need for Hamilton to make an error as he knows that, even if he wins, should Hamilton finish the race, the title will be out of his grasp unless another driver can squeeze ahead and demote Hamilton to third. He joked that he offered to last night pay for an all inclusive spa session for Bottas.
“Well, the mindset is that I need to get the job done and continue on the sort of form that I had in Brazil in the race,” said Rosberg, who claimed his first win in eight races two weeks ago in Sao Paulo.
“I’m sure it’s going to be a great battle between the two of us. Of course I hope for more than that – not just the win, but some sort of help from Lewis or anyone.”
While Hamilton’s family have not travelled to the Emirates for the final showdown, Rosberg said his dad had written to him and also passed on some words of wisdom.
“My family are supporting me and my Dad wrote,” Rosberg said.
“We had a discussion about it. He gave me his advice for this weekend and I try and apply that or take whatever I think would help me.”
Toto Wolff, the Mercedes chief, said the time for talking is over. Now is the time for the champion to make himself known.
“A lot of people have been asking what we will be saying to the drivers before tomorrow’s race and the answer is: nothing, it’s too late,” Wolff said. “Both drivers are in the zone now and we will leave them in peace to prepare.”
gmeenaghan@thenational.ae
Follow us on Twitter @SprtNationalUAE
