- Title: Rosberg and Hamilton not under team orders, says Mercedes chief
- Date: 28th September 2016
- Summary: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA (SEPTEMBER 28, 2016) (REUTERS) PETRONAS LOGO FANS GATHERED IN PETRONAS TENT SIGNAGE READING 'PETRONAS' FANS LINING UP DURING AUTOGRAPH SESSION WITH LEWIS HAMILTON AND NICO ROSBERG NICO ROSBERG AND LEWIS HAMILTTON SITTING DURING THE AUTOGRAPH SESSION ROSBERG SIGNING AN AUTOGRAPH FAN TAKING A SELFIE PHOTOGRAPH WITH NICO ROSBERG SIGNAGE READING (English) 'CROSSINGS: PUSHING BOUNDARIES' LEWIS HAMILTON SITTING DURING NEWS CONFERENCE CAMERAMAN FILMING REPORTER ASKING QUESTION (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMULA ONE DRIVER LEWIS HAMILTON SAYING: "I would say it's probably equally on both of us, we are both fighting for the championship, it's still six races to go so I don't know I've not calculated what needs to be done in order to win, I generally take it one race at the time. Hopefully I need to be winning races to get back up ahead in the championship so that's my goal." REPORTERS SITTING NICO ROSBERG SITTING (SOUNDBITE) (English) FORMULA ONE DRIVER NICO ROSBERG SAYING: "It's always a great battle against him you know, he's one of the best out there, he always put the bar very high, he's the guy to beat, he is the world champion, so it's exciting and I definitely enjoy when I'm able to beat him sometimes, that's cool and I'll try to do it again now this weekend." PHOTOGRAPHER REPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (English) EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF MERCEDES AMG PETRONAS FORMULA ONE TEAM TOTO WOLFF SAYING: "We have never interfered with any team orders and we planned to do just the same, we don't want to change the game plan, we expect them to race in a sportsmanship-like style and they have done that so there no need to change the rules." REPORTER TAKING NOTES REPORTERS SITTING CAMERAMAN/NEWS CONFERENCE CONCLUDED
- Embargoed: 13th October 2016 12:28
- Keywords: Nico Rosberg Lewis Hamilton Toto Wolff
- Location: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- City: KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA
- Country: Malaysia
- Topics: Motor Racing,Sport
- Reuters ID: LVA00151HB96N
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Formula One world champion Lewis Hamilton on Wednesday (September 28) said that he needs to start winning again in order to defend his world championship title. His teammate Nico Rosberg currently leads the drivers' championship by eight points from second-placed Hamilton with six races to go.
"I would say it's probably equally on both of us, we are both fighting for the championship, it's still six races to go so I don't know I've not calculated what needs to be done in order to win, I generally take it one race at the time. Hopefully I need to be winning races to get back up ahead in the championship so that's my goal," said Hamilton at a promotional event in Kuala Lumpur.
In the previous race, Hamilton finished third at the Singapore Grand Prix while Rosberg claimed his third consecutive race win to go above Hamilton in the standings.
"It's always a great battle against him you know, he's one of the best out there, he always put the bar very high, he's the guy to beat, he is the world champion, so it's exciting and I definitely enjoy when I'm able to beat him sometimes, that's cool and I'll try to do it again now this weekend," said Rosberg, who is seeking his first drivers' title.
With Rosberg leading the standings with six races remaining, Toto Wolff, the Mercedes' team's executive director, confirmed that the team are not giving the two drivers any orders.
"We have never interfered with any team orders and we planned to do just the same, we don't want to change the game plan, we expect them to race in a sportsmanship-like style and they have done that so there no need to change the rules," said Wolff.
The pair take to the Sepang International Circuit on Sunday (October 2) where they have a good chance of sealing the constructors' title for the third successive season. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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