United States GP: Rosberg, on pole, will not let Mercedes’ problems worry him

After securing pole position in Austin, Nico Rosberg explained that he would not let problems beyond his control hinder him in the title race.

The German will start from pole position for the ninth time this season and the 13th time in his career tomorrow at the United States Grand Prix.

However, the weekend is not entirely restful for the Mercedes team, as both drivers have suffered from brake difficulties. « We had some problems with the cars […] and we will try to fix them for tomorrow, but I’m not worried at all. I am confident that we can do the job and I will focus on what I can control, my driving, » he stated during a press briefing.

« It’s always frustrating to endure something like that, but I’ve learned to accept it and focus on the things I can influence and stick to them. That’s what I tried to do today, and it worked well. » Indeed, despite lagging behind Lewis Hamilton in free practice sessions, Nico Rosberg managed to surpass his teammate in Q2 and Q3, relatively easily, clinching pole position by four tenths.

« It was a great day and I am very happy. It worked well and, with my engineers, I finally ended up with a car that really satisfied me. We are looking to improve the car all the time: we got it just at the right time and it helped me to push. I produced a very good lap, but the balance was good. It was quite tricky because the wind was changing and, this morning, the conditions were very different, a bit cooler. The track was constantly evolving and it wasn’t easy to get everything right but, in the end, we had good settings, a great car, so I am thrilled. »

By starting from pole position, the German will be on the clean side of the track, while his teammate, starting on the inside, will be on the slightly dirtier part: « It’s an additional advantage to start first. Obviously, the side will be important, so we must make the most of it and stay ahead. »