Nico hailed as "the perfect team-mate" by Lewis at Brixworth celebration for Mercedes' second constructors' title win
Tuesday 13 October 2015 08:50, UK
Lewis Hamilton has reconciled with team-mate Nico Rosberg with the Mercedes drivers paying tribute to each other at the team's world championship party.
Friends turned foes last year when their relationship nearly crumbled under the weight of their exclusive battle for the world championship, the tension between the Silver Arrows stable-mates has been removed by Hamilton's runaway pursuit of this year's title with the champion-elect even moved to sympathise with Rosberg's plight after two race retirements in the last four races.
Addressing the Mercedes staff on Monday morning at a get-together party to celebrate the team retaining their Constructors' Championship crown, Hamilton hailed Rosberg as the "perfect team-mate" and voiced his admiration for the German's dignified conduct in adversity.
"I have known Nico since l was four years old and we have been through ups and downs but overall he has been a great team-mate," Hamilton told Sky Sports News HQ.
"The way he handles himself and behaves as a team member is great. Yesterday was a tough day, and he has had some difficult days and l know what that is like, so l just wanted to make sure that he knew that as a team we still appreciate him."
Easier said as the victor, of course, but it was Rosberg himself who made the first move towards reconciliation last year, seeking out Hamilton with a congratulatory handshake immediately after his rival's title success in Abu Dhabi.
Rosberg looked bleary-eyed after an overnight flight from Sochi as he joined in the celebrations - the adrenaline-filled euphoria of victory, in contrast, saw Hamilton take an early-morning run - but it was another measure of the German's dignified sportsmanship that he was able to muster the strength of character to applaud his team-mate as the Englishman closes in on a third title.
"He has done a great season and been even more consistent than last year, so it has been a very tough battle," Rosberg conceded to Sky Sports. "But it is not over yet and l will try to beat him in some of the remaining races."
Victory was nearly in Rosberg's grasp at Sochi on Sunday before a throttle failure saw him surrender the lead of the race to Hamilton. After returning to the Mercedes garage, Rosberg then had watch his team-mate move 66 points clear of the summit with Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel now second in the standings.
Little wonder that with so little time for the scars of defeat to heal, Rosberg admitted he attended Monday's party with mixed emotions - at least until it begun.
"It was tough for me yesterday and it was tough for me coming here because l wasn't really in a celebration mood but then seeing how happy all my colleagues are makes me happy too," he said. "It is great to see and makes me aware of what we have achieved together."
Rosberg retired from Sunday's grand prix having secured pole position by three tenths of a second from Hamilton before rebuffing his team-mate's keen advances off the line, making the failure of his W06 car after just ten laps all the more difficult to swallow.
"It was tough, especially as I really felt the race was mine. To then have a problem like that is very difficult," Rosberg rued. "I'll keep pushing until it is mathematically sure but l just want to concentrate on the remaining races and win some races."
Hamilton, meanwhile, continues to bristle at suggestions a third coronation is now a mere formality. Stung by the memory of 2007, when Kimi Raikkonen snatched the title out of his grasp, Hamilton is adamant that he is not taking this year's championship for granted.
"It hasn't happened yet so I've just got to keep my feet on the ground, approaching every race the same, keep pushing and training," said Hamilton. "This car is just so much fun to drive. When I joined this team I had hoped something like this would happen but I ever thought it would happen as early as it has.
"We have great heads of department and then in those departments we have individuals who absolutely want to to do their best. To say that we are world champions is one of the greatest. But there are four races to go so those are four wins we want to get."
See if Lewis Hamilton clinches the 2015 world title in Austin with the United States GP LIVE ONLY on Sky Sports F1. Race-day coverage on Sunday October 25 begins at 5.30pm with lights out at 7pm.
