Title duo don’t expect ‘any favours’ from rivals

Ahead of what could be a title-deciding Brazilian Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg have insisted they don’t expect “any favours” from the rest of the field.

Hamilton and Rosberg will line up on the Interlagos grid first and second this Sunday with the Brit on pole position.

It is, however, Rosberg who holds the advantage in the standings with a 19-point cushion.

This weekend has already seen a bit of controversy with the Mercedes team-mates on the fringes after it emerged that their boss Toto Wolff phoned Max Verstappen’s father to warn the Red Bull driver to stay out of the fight.

Hamilton, though, is adamant that he is not expecting any favours from Mercedes’ rivals just because there is a World title at stake.

“We are racing,” he said. “They don’t owe me any favours and they don’t owe Nico any favours.

“If it was me in their car I’d be wanting to get the best result, get the best bonus, get the most points, be ahead of whoever you are racing against.

“Of course I would want to be racing hard.”

And that is a sentiment echoed by Rosberg.

“As a race driver you don’t treat somebody differently just because he’s fighting for the championship,” said the championship leader.

“He’s an opponent, and that’s how you treat him. That’s how I used to do it, and I’m sure everybody else does the same.”