F1: Rosberg admits 'mistake' in USGP, discusses double-points finale
Nico Rosberg admits he made a mistake when trying to get a power boost while attempting to keep Lewis Hamilton behind him in Austin.
Rosberg wanted the boost at the end of the straight as Lewis was preparing to launch his passing move, but he inadvertently used a control that asked for boost at the next straight.
“I made a mistake because I used the wrong things to give me KERS,” he said. “I thought I was doing the right thing, but there's a delay in that one, and if I do it with a button it's immediate, and with a switch there's a delay. So I never got the extra KERS, and that's why in the last meters he got a good jump on me. That's was a mistake that I didn't know about.
“I went for extra boost, but the way I did it, it only comes on the next straight, or it comes with a delay, so I didn't get extra boost.”
Asked if his error had made a difference he said: “I don't know, in that situation it would have helped of course. I think he was pretty committed anyway.
“I'm sure I could have done better. It's a judgement thing, if I defend a lot, then he's going to brake late on the outside, and try and get me on the next one. I thought to indicate that I'm closing the door would be enough to stop him from trying, but it wasn't. I was part way over already, and I thought that was enough to make it clear for him that he shouldn't try, but it wasn't.”
Rosberg insisted that he's not compromised by memories of Spa when in combat with Lewis: “No, definitely not.”
He said the positive outcome of the race was that he will take the title battle to the wire.
“Championship wise it's becoming more difficult, but at the same time it's is a definite that I have a chance in the last race to win, so with that in hand already, that's worth a lot.”
As for winning via double points, he said: “It is what it is. I don't care, As long as I have one more point at the checkered flag in Abu Dhabi. It's the same for everybody.”
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff admits that the double points scenario in Abu Dhabi could cast a shadow on a championship victory for Nico Rosberg.
Even if Lewis Hamilton wins in Brazil with Rosberg failing to score, if the opposite then happens in Abu Dhabi, the German would win the title.
“It's satisfying to know that only a Mercedes driver can win the championship from now on,” said Wolff. “Even though it was highly likely, with 92 points to Daniel from now it's mathematically impossible that somebody else wins it. And that's a good feeling.
“I think the last race with the double points has the potential to overshadow a season. We know why the double points came, and it made all the sense in the world to make it spectacular for the audience and for the fans and for the viewers, but now we are in a situation that it could change the outcome.”
Meanwhile Wolff is happy that Mercedes has equalled McLaren's 1988 record of 10 one-two finishes in a season.
“There is one thing that makes me proud for the achievements of the team. As a kid I remember this dominance of McLaren, and I remember seeing those cars taking one-twos all the time, up to a point when it was almost boring. It was just dominance pure, and us equalling that record and even being able to do one or two more is proof that the team has done many things right, and the team has taken many good decisions. Normally I don't care about statistics, but that one is something which reminds me of 20 years ago.”
