Mercedes: Hamilton wants to gain the upper hand over Rosberg

Rivalry within a team is often fierce, but when the world title is at stake, it becomes even more intense. In the anticipated duel between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton, the key is to gain a mathematical and psychological advantage over the other car as soon as possible.

Returned to 11 points behind Nico Rosberg after his magnificent battle in Bahrain, Lewis Hamilton declares himself ready for the fight, even if it’s against a brother-in-arms and an old friend: « It’s about seeing who is the strongest. I can’t say who it is at the moment, but I’m trying to be as strong as I have always been. »

A retirement in Melbourne, coupled with a victory for Rosberg, had propelled the German driver to the top of the championship, but Lewis Hamilton has since made up some of the deficit: « It’s not easy to gain momentum and keep it going with the ups and downs. I took a bit of a hit in the first race. I was 25 points behind. But in Bahrain, I really felt that I earned that result. There was no luck involved. It was one of the toughest races I’ve experienced. »

Lewis Hamilton confirms that the duel between teammates is a matter of constant competition: « You’re always trying to gain the upper hand. It’s not just about working hard; it involves every step from now until the next race, every decision you make, every aspect of your life. Everything adds up to determine your current form and morale. [Rosberg] is always saying he’s preparing to take the lead in the next race, so I need to make sure everything is working perfectly on my side. »

The constant competition is currently a sure sign of effectiveness for Mercedes, as long as this rivalry does not turn into open hostility as it did in 2007 at McLaren between Alonso and… Hamilton. But for now, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton still seem to remain “good friends”…