Mercedes boss Toto Wolff insists that Nico Rosberg can still win the Formula 1 Drivers’ title despite Lewis Hamilton’s surge to the top of the standings.
Rosberg enjoyed a blistering start to the 2016 season, building on a fast finish to last term, as he won the opening four races in Australia, Bahrain, China and Russia.
He led the current world champion by as many as 43 points at one stage but the British driver has stormed back.
Hamilton entered the summer break on a four-race winning sequence thanks to victories in the Austrian, British, Hungarian and German Grands Prix – enough to move him 19 points clear of his Mercedes teammates atop the drivers’ standings.
While the momentum is seemingly with the three-time world champion, Wolff says Rosberg still has plenty to offer, particularly given his outstanding ability to produce top performances in qualifying.
“He does [have the ability to turn things around],” Wolff told the F1 website. “We are half way through the 2016 season and only nineteen points separate both. That’s less than one race win – and Nico is superb in qualifying.
So both are on the same level.” Wolff added that he has ‘no doubt’ in his mind that the German driver is ready to seize his maiden world title.
Wolff denied that Hamilton trumps Rosberg in terms of ability to win races, highlighting the differing paths that both drivers have trod en route to the top of their sport.
“Nico’s circumstances were completely different to those of Lewis who immediately started his F1 career in a winning team with McLaren,” he added.
“Right now Nico is paired with Lewis who is probably the best driver in F1 at the moment – and yes, that is a tough challenge. That is a benchmark – and he accepts that.”
Rosberg is 4.20 to win the Drivers’ Championship this season while Hamilton is 1.22 to retain his crown.
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