Formula 1

Nico Rosberg takes a step closer to title after surviving Verstappen contact

Published Nov. 15, 2016 1:56 p.m. ET

Adam Cooper

Nico Rosberg took a step closer to securing the 2016 World Championship by finishing second to Lewis Hamilton in Mexico, losing just seven points of his lead.

Rosberg survived first corner contact with Max Verstappen, from which he was lucky to emerge without serious damage.

“He went over the limit he locked up the front tire and shunted me off the track and it was a pretty big impact,” he said. “It didn't look like it on the TV, but feeling wise it was a massive impact, and I thought my car was done, in fact I had a little steering offset after that. A penalty, that’s not for me judge, they decided no penalty and I accept that.”

Asked if penalties are inconsistent, he said: “We know that, but its difficult, no incident is the same as the previous incident, so it will be a challenge but it something that we know we can make further progress and we should continue to discuss it and get further down the road, but this is a known fact it not for me to complain.”

Rosberg wouldn’t comment on whether Hamilton should have been given a penalty for going straight on the first corner.

“I was excited because I thought I would be in front, because that was some pretty late braking, and then he floored it thought the grass, but again that's not for me to judge.”

Meanwhile, Rosberg is not getting excited about the fact that he can clinch the title by winning in Brazil.

“It’s cool to be in that situation but I never change my approach, that’s what feels best, where I can perform at my best.

“There are still two races to go anything can happen in sport, so why waste energy on something like that? I just stay in the moment.”

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