- Title: "Extra special" to beat Hamilton to world championship - Rosberg
- Date: 29th November 2016
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (NOVEMBER 29, 2016) (REUTERS) ****WARNING CONTAINS FLASH PHOTOGRAPHY*** FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION NICO ROSBERG AND MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS FORMULA ONE TEAM DIRECTOR TOTO WOLFF ARRIVING AT NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMAN FILMING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION, NICO ROSBERG, TALKING ABOUT MERCEDES TEAMMATE AND RIVAL LEWIS HAMILTON, SAYING: "Yes we go back... I feel like I've been racing him forever. It's always difficult to get those championships because he's always edged me out ever so slightly, even back in the days when were 13 years old. And now finally, to get one back on him, that was awesome and it adds that little bit extra, to beat him rather than somebody else. Because he was the world champion also, so to take it away from him... very special." ROSBERG SITTING LOGO ON ROSBERG SHIRT (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMULA ONE WORLD CHAMPION, NICO ROSBERG, SAYING: "We have been working to those sort of guidelines for three years now, at the same time I can understand Lewis because we are drivers, we are fighters until the last metre. It's the about the world championship so he decided to try everything he could out there. So in a way it is understandable, even though it was very, very tough as a result. That’s it. I don't think it's something that needs to be discussed." VARIOUS OF REPORTER WRITING ON MOBILE PHONE NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (English) MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS FORMULA ONE TEAM DIRECTOR, TOTO WOLFF, SAYING: "I haven't made up my mind. I can understand why he (Hamilton) drove like he drove, it was his instinct and he needed to do it. Equally, our system has made them win many races, but has also created that era of dominance. But again, let's discuss at a later stage, today is about only this man (Rosberg)." NEWS CONFERENCE IN PROGRESS
- Embargoed: 14th December 2016 12:20
- Keywords: Nico Rosberg Toto Wolff Mercedes Formula Lewis Hamilton
- Location: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- City: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Reuters ID: LVA0015AHZU4F
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: The newly-crowned Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg says edging out his teammate and rival Lewis Hamilton to clinch his first title made the achievement that extra bit special.
Speaking in Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday (November 29), the German said it was great to finally defeat his Mercedes teammate, who has been racing against, and beating, Rosberg since they were both 13.
"I feel like I've been racing him forever. It's always difficult to get those championships because he's always edged me out ever so slightly, even back in the days when were 13 years old," said Rosberg.
"Now finally, to get one back on him, that was awesome and it adds that little bit extra, to beat him rather than somebody else. Because he was the world champion also, so to take it away from him... very special."
Hamilton, who won the final race of the season in Abu Dhabi but lost his title to Rosberg, slowed the pace deliberately in a bid to back his team mate into a position where rivals could overtake the German, who needed to finish on the podium.
Mercedes bosses left open the possibility of disciplinary action against Hamilton after the Briton ignored their orders.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff warned of potential 'anarchy' and said he had yet to decide how to respond to a situation that threatened to undermine the team.
Rosberg admitted that Hamilton's tactics made the race in Dubai difficult but said it was understandable in the circumstances, with Hamilton going for a fourth world title.
"I can understand Lewis because we are drivers, we are fighters until the last metre. It's the about the world championship so he decided to try everything he could out there. So in a way it is understandable, even though it was very, very tough as a result," said Rosberg.
Wolff admitted that he has yet to decide on how to proceed with Hamilton and whether disciplinary action would follow.
"I can understand why he (Hamilton) drove like he drove, it was his instinct and he needed to do it. Equally, our system has made them win many races, but has also created that era of dominance. But again, let's discuss at a later stage, today is about only this man (Rosberg)." - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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