"Lewis won't be at the highest confidence going into the start," suggests Nico
Sunday 15 May 2016 10:42, UK
Nico Rosberg says settling for second place will not enter his mind when he attempts to overcome Lewis Hamilton's pole position and extend his winning run in Sunday's Spanish GP.
Despite the championship leader appearing to have the edge over his Mercedes team-mate at Barcelona, Hamilton turned the tables at the end of qualifying and claimed pole by three tenths of a second
Rosberg goes in to the race 43 points ahead of the Briton in the standings and could afford to finish second to Hamilton in the next six grands prix and still retain the lead of the championship.
However, amid a run of seven consecutive wins stretching back to last November, Rosberg insists his sole focus is on beating Hamilton on Sunday afternoon.
"I'm not really thinking about coming second, I want to be first," he said.
"And in coming first it's a big battle which is on a knife's edge against Lewis. There's not much comfortable about that, it's a great challenge.
"I want to win and I'll take chances to win the race. That's what I've come here for."
Pole position at the Circuit de Catalunya has historically proved one of the most valuable of the whole season, with only six winners of the race in its 25-year history coming from lower than first on the grid.
Despite claiming two poles before Saturday, Hamilton has yet to finish an opening lap higher than fifth this season and Rosberg has suggested his team-mate might not approach the first corner with the highest amount of confidence.
"It's not going to be easy because on this track it's notoriously difficult to get past, but there are some opportunities," the German driver said.
"The start. For sure, Lewis won't be at the highest confidence going into the start with the way the first five [races] have gone, so there's maybe a small opportunity there. And, if not, after that tyre wise, it's going to be a challenge."
Watch the Spanish GP live on Sky Sports F1. The race starts at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up underway at 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV.
