Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMercedes

Rosberg's 'brain has switched' - Lauda

Niki Lauda believes Nico Rosberg's "brain has switched" which is allowing him to drive more freely after securing back-to-back victories.

Rosberg made an error in the United States Grand Prix which handed Lewis Hamilton the drivers' championship with three races remaining this season. However, since then the German has been in impressive form, winning from pole position in both Mexico and Brazil. After what he described as an "unbelievable performance" from Rosberg at Interlagos, Lauda believes the championship runner-up is simply in a better state of mind.

Asked why he feels Rosberg has shown a recent resurgence, Lauda replied: "Like the last one - suddenly his brain has switched and off he goes.

"These things happen to drivers and sometimes you fight with yourself and suddenly you get free in your head and off you go. He is as quick as Lewis. If everything is going well for him he can win."

And Lauda dismissed the notion that Rosberg's recent performances are the result of Hamilton dropping his own level since clinching the drivers' championship in Austin.

"Maybe he lost the need, nevertheless he is still fighting, you can see that with every lap. At the moment Nico is better."

Rosberg's win in Brazil secured second place in the drivers' championship having been trailing Sebastian Vettel just two races previously.

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.