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Wolff sure Mercedes' in-house battle will not boil over

Wolff sure Mercedes' in-house battle will not boil over

  • Published on 21 Nov 2014 15:51
  • comments 0
  • By: Rob Veenstra
Toto Wolff is sure Mercedes' in-house battle for the biggest prize in motor sport this weekend will not boil over. Nico Rosberg on Thursday was piling on the psychological pressure, even urging Lewis Hamilton to keep their on-track fight "clean" in Abu Dhabi.

Of the duo, with Hamilton 17 points ahead and only needing to finish second, it is Rosberg playing the more obvious "mind games", although there was a tense moment in the FIA press conference when Hamilton appeared reluctant to shake his German rival's hand. "He has everything to lose and I have everything to gain," Rosberg said.

He claimed Hamilton only spun in Brazil two weeks ago because he was feeling the pressure, and even vowed to make Hamilton "nervous" in their internal team briefings throughout the decisive race weekend of the season. "That's my job this weekend," Rosberg told German reporters on Thursday. "It helps, of course, that we're always around each other most of the time."

He also suggested that he may depart from his usual routine and experiment more with his car setup in Abu Dhabi, and noted that last year in Abu Dhabi "was one of his (Hamilton's) weakest races". Observers on Thursday concluded that Rosberg appeared more bullish on Thursday, while Hamilton talked of feeling relaxed but kept his answers to the media short and quiet.

"In terms of the pressure, I don't really feel anything," the Briton insisted. "I have been racing for 20 years to prepare for it. The last time I was in this situation I was nervous. Now it's like being a kid at Christmas."

No one really believes Hamilton is feeling that way, but his 2008 championship rival Felipe Massa knows how important trying to relax is. "If you're scared, you lose tenths," the Brazilian said. "Hamilton is in a simple situation but in the race he needs to be careful, which does not always work out for Lewis. Let's see how it ends."

Wolff, the Mercedes team boss, said the German team is impartial and only wants the title to be decided fairly. He is not worried a Senna-Prost style collision will happen. "They are both good lads, neither of them are deceitful," Wolff is quoted by Spain's Marca.

"Nico has to win and Lewis wants to win (the title) with a victory so it will be a tough race," Germany's Auto Motor und Sport quotes Wolff as adding. "But it will not go so far that they will drive into each other. They both have too much to lose." (GMM)
F1 News Felipe Massa Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg Mercedes

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Team
Points
1
Red Bull Racing
860
2
Mercedes
409
3
Ferrari
406
4
McLaren
302
5
Aston Martin
280
6
Alpine F1
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Williams
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Alpha Tauri
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Alfa Romeo Racing
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Haas F1
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Date
Grand Prix
Circuit
-
Bahrain
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia
Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia
Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan
Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy
Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco
Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada
Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria
Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom
Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary
Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy
Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore
Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan
Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar
Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America
Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico
Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Spain
3 - Nov 5
Brazil
Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America
Las Vegas Street Circuit
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United Arab Emirates
Yas Marina Circuit
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Italy
-
Italy
-
Italy
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2023

Date
Grand Prix & Circuit
-
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
3 - Mar 5
Bahrain Bahrain International Circuit
17 - Mar 19
Saudi Arabia Jeddah Street Circuit
31 - Apr 2
Australia Albert Park
28 - Apr 30
Azerbaijan Baku City Circuit
5 - May 7
United States of America Miami International Autodrome
19 - May 21
Italy Autodromo Enzo e Dino Ferrari
26 - May 28
Monaco Monte Carlo
2 - Jun 4
Spain Circuit de Catalunya
16 - Jun 18
Canada Gilles Villeneuve
30 - Jul 2
Austria Red Bull Ring
7 - Jul 9
United Kingdom Silverstone
21 - Jul 23
Hungary Hungaroring
28 - Jul 30
Belgium Spa-Francorchamps
25 - Aug 27
Netherlands Circuit Zandvoort
1 - Sep 3
Italy Monza
15 - Sep 17
Singapore Marina Bay Street Circuit
22 - Sep 24
Japan Circuit Suzuka
6 - Oct 8
Qatar Losail International Circuit
20 - Oct 22
United States of America Circuit of the Americas
27 - Oct 29
Mexico Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez
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Spain Circuit de Catalunya
3 - Nov 5
Brazil Interlagos
17 - Nov 19
United States of America Las Vegas Street Circuit
24 - Nov 26
United Arab Emirates Yas Marina Circuit
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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Italy Adria International Raceway
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BR Felipe Massa -
  • Team -
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  • Country Brazil
  • Date of b. Apr 21 1981 (42)
  • Place of b. Sao Paulo, Brazil
  • Weight 59 kg
  • Length 1.66 m
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