It won't come as any surprise to anyone looking at the numbers, but now even Nico Rosberg has been forced to admit that his chances of beating his Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton to the 2015 Formula One world championship are all but over.
"With four races left and a big gap to Lewis, it's clear that the title is a long shot for me now," he conceded this week ahead of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas.
With a 66 point lead in the drivers championship, a win at COTA for Hamilton would be enough to put the title battle beyond doubt. However, Rosberg insisted that he wouldn't stop fighting until the very last minute.
"It's not in me to give up or back down," he said. "I'll be pushing flat out to the end.
"[Austin] is a great track to drive. I got pole there last year, and I'm coming off the back of a really strong weekend in Russia in terms of my performance,
"If I can repeat all of that then I'll be in a good position. Bring it on!"
Even when and if the title is finally beyond his grasp, Rosberg still sees plenty worth fighting for in the remaining races of the 2015 season.
"Hopefully having some fun out there in the final few rounds this year," he replied what his plans were.
"I really want to enjoy the next races, as our Silver Arrow is such a great car and gives me the chance to end the year with a few more wins."
Rosberg is also convinced that staying at Mercedes will mean he will have many more chances to challenge Hamilton and the rest of the field for a title in the future.
"There’s no limit to what we can achieve in the coming years. I look forward to many more great memories and exciting times ahead."
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