Hamilton not driving better this year - Rosberg

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Nico Rosberg doesn't believe Lewis Hamilton is performing at a higher level this year compared to last season when the German beat his Mercedes team mate to the title.

Rosberg clinched the championship in 2016 in Abu Dhabi and is back in the Yas Marina paddock this year, working with German broadcaster RTL.

Pundits have suggested that Hamilton has upped his game this season, and Rosberg is well placed to offer his view on the matter.

"I know what level he was driving at last year and I'm probably the best judge of that," said Rosberg.

"I would say no. I don't think he could have improved.

"During the season he had his strong and weaker moments, and like I did last season, Sebastian (Vettel) tried to use those weaknesses.

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"But the difference this year was that, unlike in 2016, Lewis did practically all of Mercedes' wins.

"Last year we drove at such a high level throughout the season that Valtteri (Bottas) had a very difficult job to try to continue in the same way," Rosberg added.

Assessing his former team's achievements in 2017, the 32-year-old retired driver has been very impressed by Mercedes' ability to transition from one set of rules to the other, and retain its success.

"To survive a rule change like that with such dominance is very, very rare in Formula 1," he said.

"It was the next step to legendary status for Mercedes."

But Rosberg also took his hat off to Ferrari, praising the Italian outfit for its progress and success.

"You have to see their performance increase as a kind of miracle," he said.

"There was confusion in 2016, a big change of personnel -- they were in no man's land," he said.

He also viewed Ferrari's collapse in reliability towards the end of this year as "normal", because the Italian team was simply "on the limit" of what is possible in F1.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.