No handshake but Lewis rejects suggestion he may try to back Nico into the Red Bulls to win the world championship in season finale
Monday 28 November 2016 11:25, UK
Lewis Hamilton has vowed not to 'play dirty' in the season-concluding Abu Dhabi GP in order to win the title ahead of Nico Rosberg and revealed he is "proud" of his team-mate's 2016 performances.
Although the pair failed to shake hands when invited to do so as they posed for photographs ahead of their media summit at the Yas Marina Circuit, Hamilton later spoke warmly of his boyhood friend-turned-title-foe.
Hamilton said it had been a "pleasure" to partner Rosberg at Mercedes and, in a particularly disarming aside, told reporters that "when stepping aside from our competitive selves, I'm proud of how he has driven this year".
Holding a 12-point lead, Rosberg will be crowned champion if finishes on the podium on Sunday and Red Bull boss Christian Horner has mischievously suggested Hamilton should back Rosberg into Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo in order to facilitate a title-winning result.
But the Englishman has all-but ruled out trying to interfere with his team-mate's race.
"If I am out ahead, I want to be as far ahead as possible," said Hamilton. "Generally when you have a thirty-second lead, that's as painful a blow you can give to the guy you are fighting and those scenarios for me are more valuable and more of an achievement than backing up your team-mate.
"Plus, while it might sound like it makes sense, it's practically not very good to do. With two long DRS zones here, it wouldn't be very easy or very wise to do."
"Nico has been on pole here for the last two years here, he has been very quick. This has been a relatively strong circuit for me, but [I was] not delivering the last two years, so my sole goal is to do so."
While Hamilton and Rosberg have been team-mates at Mercedes since 2013, their relationship dates back to boyhood when the pair first drove together in karting.
"We still have the base respect that we had back in those early days," said Rosberg. "I have a lot of respect for Lewis inside and outside the car.
"There have been difficult moments but this year in general we have made progress. It's generally neutral but of course it's a difficult environment."
Appearing relaxed and jovial, Hamilton even welcomed one question to Rosberg enquiring as to why Mercedes had changed around some of their engineers at the start of the season. "That's a very good question," interrupted Hamilton and, turning to Rosberg, added: "I would like to add 'what was the explanation given to you?'"
After Rosberg straight-batted the enquiry, Hamilton then joked: "You'll have to buy my book in ten years' time for when I'll tell you exactly what happened."
