Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff admits he can not pinpoint any particular reason as to why Nico Rosberg has turned the tables on team-mate Lewis Hamilton over the past two grands prix.
The German convincingly won from pole position both in Mexico and Brazil and candidly admitted himself that he did know why things are “going a lot better at the moment”.
Hamilton, who wrapped up the 2015 title in Austin, was quick to deny allegations pointing to a lack of motivation, though he had declared that his “main job is done this year” after losing out to Rosberg in qualifying at Interlagos.
“I think racing drivers are a different kind of species,” Wolff said. “I have no explanation for you. You could say that Lewis won it all, he has achieved his target. The adrenaline is maybe not as high as it was before and Nico is driving without pressure. But I am not sure they know, but both of them will spend time over the winter reflecting what happened at the end.
“One important thing is you can see his class now. And we have always tried to say that Nico's class and performance is important to make Lewis perform as he did and to make the car faster and the team to progress, and Mexico and Brazil was a good example of that class.”
Rosberg’s resurgence has enabled him to secure the runner-up spot in the Drivers’ championship against Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel, thus completing Mercedes’ perfect 2015 campaign.
After Mexico, Hamilton suggested that his team-mate’s win had been devised by Mercedes in order to “keep him happy”, while former grand prix star David Coulthard questioned the genuineness of Mercedes’ post-race celebration.
Wolff dismisses the theory that the double world champions have been recently favouring Rosberg.
“I don’t want to be biased because both of them deserve to win races, and you can say now that yes maybe everything has fallen into place. Lewis has won the championship for himself and Nico has secured P2 and the vice championship. But it was his performance and he didn't have anybody's help, so from the team perspective it was a pretty optimum result.”
REPORT: Rosberg keeps Hamilton at bay to win in Brazil
AS IT HAPPENED: Brazilian Grand Prix
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