LONDON (REUTERS) – Nico Rosberg, the final driver to take Lewis Hamilton all the best way and win a System One title battle, is aware of what the Briton and Crimson Bull rival Max Verstappen are going by in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
Even when they handle to maintain a lid on feelings, the retired 2016 world champion was certain each could be feeling big strain.
“I used to be in such a title battle in 2016 and it is rather a lot, simply the depth. The nerves,” Rosberg, then Hamilton’s teammate at dominant Mercedes, informed Sky Sports activities tv on Saturday (Dec 11).
“Somebody like Max, from exterior generally you assume ‘This man does not even get nervous’ however that is not true. Inside we’re nonetheless all people… and each of them will likely be on the sting of their seats this weekend.”
The 36-year-old German, who retired days after taking the title in Abu Dhabi, stated sleeping within the run-up to the showdown was “an absolute catastrophe”.
“It was like two, most three, hours per night time. I could not even eat correctly. The meals would not go down. So I needed to revert again to my childhood meals which was Frosties and milk,” he recalled.
“That was the one factor that might go down.
“And it is all these troubles that you’re then combating all through the weekend, you simply should try to spare the power to when it issues.”
Generational battle
Hamilton and Verstappen are locked in a generational battle with the 36-year-old Mercedes driver chasing a file eighth crown and the Dutch 24-year-old his first.
The pair have collided thrice already and are stage on factors going into the ultimate race – solely the second time that has occurred and the primary since 1974 – with Verstappen 9-8 forward on wins.
Social media goes full throttle with followers of every driver arguing over each twist and switch of the championship.
Rosberg felt his former teammate would come out on prime finally.
“Lewis is on fireplace, he has such nice kind, successful three (races) in a row and he is introduced it into free follow right here,”he stated as Hamilton topped ultimate follow, marking himself out as favorite for pole place.
“You type of really feel he needs to be slightly bit the favorite for the time being.”
The Briton steered his Mercedes across the revised 5.2km structure of the Yas Marina observe in 1min 23.274sec, beating the Dutchman by 0.214 of a second.
Valtteri Bottas, in his ultimate race with Mercedes forward of a swap to Alfa Romeo subsequent season, was third 0.751sec off the tempo.
Saturday’s ultimate hour of operating forward of qualifying was not easy crusing for both of the 2 contenders.
Verstappen, who had led Friday’s first session of follow earlier than struggling for outright pace within the second session, misplaced observe time as Crimson Bull carried out work on his rear wing to resolve what crew boss Christian Horner referred to as a “reliability difficulty”.
Hamilton, who pushed his rival off the timesheets to finish Friday with the quickest time, set his benchmark early on. However, he then struggled to enhance on it in later makes an attempt as his rear tyres overheated.
Rosberg stated Hamilton was additionally efficient at taking part in the media, with Crimson Bull boss Christian Horner on Friday casting the battle between the 2 contenders as Max versus the Mercedes machine.
“The media recreation is one thing you need to play if you wish to win a world championship. It is at all times like that as a result of the media has such an influence, even internally within the crew,” stated the German.
“Lewis may be very, excellent at that. His newest technique has been to remain out of issues, keep very low profile and simply let the eye and strain construct on Max’s shoulders. And that has labored very properly.
“Christian has to try to do what he can as a result of for younger Max it is the primary time he is in a championship battle. It is a massive ask, towards one of many biggest of all time.”