F1 News, Reports and Race Results

Rosberg spoke with Ecclestone over title comments

Formula One points leader Nico Rosberg has revealed that he spoke with Bernie Ecclestone after the series supremo reportedly said it would not be good for the sport if the German driver were to win this year’s championship.

Ecclestone was quoted as saying that “there is nothing to write about” Rosberg because he does not have the same aura and appeal as Mercedes team-mate and title rival Lewis Hamilton.

Attending Thursday’s FIA press conference ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Rosberg was asked to comment on Ecclestone’s remarks.

“I spoke to him personally and he said that’s not exactly the way he said it,” he replied. “Anyways, that’s not something that’s important to me. I just focus on my thing, and that’s it.”

Rosberg’s achievements this year - nine race wins and eight pole positions out of 18 grands prix weekends so far - have been belittled in some quarters in light of Hamilton’s engine reliability issues.

The 31-year-old, who holds a 26-point lead over Hamilton with three events to go, says he does not care whether or not people give him enough credit for his successes.

“I’m here to win races and not please everyone who is out there. There’s always going to be people who have opinions that will going against me in some way or another […] and that’s the nature of the business, it’s always going to be like that, so I like to focus on the people who support me, and that’s it.”

Chris Medland's 2016 Mexican Grand Prix preview

TECHNICAL SNAPSHOT: Austin

Scene at the United States Grand Prix

2017 driver line-ups so far

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter

Julien Billiotte

Recent Posts

F1 boss Domenicali on why Apple TV will shatter ESPN’s records

Formula 1 is gearing up for a new digital era in the United States –…

2 hours ago

Sainz reveals ‘not ideal’ reality shared with Alonso

Carlos Sainz has lifted the lid on a private paddock conversation he enjoyed with Fernando…

3 hours ago

Horner names the true culprits of his Red Bull exit

Christian Horner has offered a revealing look back at his dramatic exit from Red Bull…

5 hours ago

McLaren Majesty: When Prost and Lauda stood alone

Alain Prost follows Niki Lauda by just two days on the February birthday calendar, the…

6 hours ago

Coulthard on why Bottas has the edge over Perez at Cadillac

Sergio Perez’s Formula 1 comeback with Cadillac is already under the microscope – and he…

8 hours ago

‘Not pure Formula 1’: Verstappen fires fresh salvo at 2026 cars

After pre-season testing in Bahrain gave F1’s drivers their first real taste of the sport’s…

9 hours ago