Rosberg determined to triumph on home soil

Editor

Having seen Lewis Hamilton edge ahead in the World Championship stakes, Nico Rosberg is eyeing victory in Germany as he looks to leapfrog his Mercedes team-mate.

Rosberg began the 2016 campaign by winning the first four races of the season, but has been stuck in Hamilton’s shadow of late, with the Briton erasing Rosberg’s 43-point lead and moving six points clear after victory in Hungary last weekend.

Hamilton will be backing himself at Hockenheim where he has won the last three races, but Rosberg is eager to replicate his victory at the track in 2014.

“It’s simple for me now,” he told reporters. “Lewis has done the best job so far this season — by six points. That’s it. It’s the only change, but it doesn’t change much for me.

“It’s so close. I’m out there at every race with the opportunity to win and it is always very close between us. It takes just one small thing to switch it around.

“I’m happy to have the chance to get back in the car again so soon and especially happy that it’s at my second home race.”

A home race is always a special one, and Robserg recently spent time at Hockenheim, and had the opportunity to drive Mika Hakkinen’s Championship-winning, which he said gave him a much-needed spark.

“I had a fantastic day at Hockenheim a few weeks ago driving Mika Hakkinen’s championship-winning car. It really gave me a massive buzz to be back racing in Germany,” he said.

“Driving in through the circuit gates brought back so many great memories from my childhood days at the DTM, with my Dad, right through to winning the Grand Prix for myself in 2014.

“Hopefully I can repeat that this year for the fans and for everybody at Mercedes. After this race, it’s a well-earned break for the team, too. I’ll be pushing flat out to give them the result they deserve before they get some time to recharge their batteries.”