"He's on it like ever before," insists Rosberg after Fleet Street claims of 'meltdown'; Wolff backs Hamilton to bounce back in Austin.
Wednesday 12 October 2016 08:00, UK
Nico Rosberg says suggestions that Lewis Hamilton is in 'meltdown' are "complete rubbish" and insists the Brit is putting in long hours in a bid to salvage his title challenge.
Following a tough weekend on the track in Japan and a controversial one off it, Fleet Street claimed Hamilton was 'fragile', in 'meltdown', and that he was cracking under pressure from his Mercedes team-mate.
Fleet Street savage 'fragile' Hamilton
But Rosberg, now 33 points clear in the standings with just four races remaining, was quick to deny any accusations of Hamilton not being fully focused and is expecting a "great battle" as he aims for a maiden world championship.
"It's complete rubbish," Rosberg told Sky Sports News HQ's Craig Slater. "He's on it like ever before, fully motivated and does massive work hours also. I've seldom seen that from him in the last few years, such a large amount.
"For sure it's going to be a great battle with him, every race until the end of the championship."
The German was speaking from Mercedes' UK headquarters in Brackley as the team celebrated a third straight constructors' title and was joined by Hamilton, as well as Toto Wolff, Niki Lauda and Paddy Lowe.
Mercedes boss Wolff said Hamilton wouldn't be taking much notice of the media coverage, and was backing the world champion to bounce back at the US GP.
"It's clear that the media needs to produce headlines," he explained. "It's going both directions, you're being built up and being dropped. Lewis had a couple of bad weekends but if he recovers in Austin he will be the hero again.
"He's one of Britain's greatest heroes. He's won world titles in Formula 1 and this is not easy."
Rosberg joined Mercedes in 2010 and admitted he was "proud" to have been part of the project since day one, while Wolff added that he would be a deserving world champion.
"He's won nine Grand Prixs this year and he has always been very closely matched with Lewis in the last couple of years," Wolff said. "I remember in 2014 when we let him down in Singapore and Abu Dhabi - this year Lewis has been the more unlucky one.
"Both of them would deserve to win the world championship."
Don't miss The F1 Report's review of the Japanese GP as Natalie Pinkham is joined by Will Buxton and Phil Duncan in the studio. Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday evening.
