Rosberg hat-trick ‘to seal it for Mercedes’

SEPANG: Nico Rosberg of Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team wants to secure a hat-trick of World Constructor titles by winning the Malaysian Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang Circuit this weekend.

The German who has won the last races in Belgium, Italy and Singapore, is aiming for another win to cheer Petronas, the technical partnership of the team in their home race.

In the constructor’s championship, Mercedes could this weekend emerge champions unless they are outscored by eight points by nearest rivals Red Bull Racing or 23 points by third placed Ferrari.

2017 F1 world championship schedule:

March 26: Australia ( Melbourne) April 9: China ( Shanghai) April 16: Bahrain ( Sakhir) April 30: Russia ( Sochi) May 14: Spain ( Barcelona) May 28: Monaco June 11: Canada ( Montreal) June 18: Europe ( Baku, Azerbaijan) July 2: Austria ( Red Bull Ring, Spielberg) July 9: Great Britain ( Silverstone) July 23: Hungary ( Hungaroring, Budapest) July 30: Germany ( Hockenheim) Aug 27: Belgium ( Spa-Francorchamps) Sept 3: Italy ( Monza)

SEPT 17: MALAYSIA ( Sepang, KL)

Oct 1: Singapore Oct 8: Japan ( Suzuka) Oct 22: United States (Austin) Nov 5: Mexico Nov 12: Brazil ( Interlagos, Sao Paolo) Nov 26: Abu Dhabi ( UAE)

Mercedes currently leads with 538 points over Red Bull Racing (316) and Ferrari (301).

“It has been another incredible year really. Every time we think it can never happen again and can never repeat itself, we manage to do it again,” said Rosberg.

“This year, despite being so early in the season, we have an opportunity to clinch the constructors’ championship, which i s phenomenal and everybody has just done an unbelievable job, very impressive,” he said during a press conference yesterday.

“I don’t need to take anything f rom the Singapor e ( GP) weekend.

“It was a great result and a great weekend and I am very happy about that. But it is in the past.

“I’m here in Sepang and ready to go and I believe I have a great chance to win here as well and I just want to try and go for that,” said the current drivers’ championship leader with 273 points, ahead team-mate Lewis Hamilton with 265 points.

“I want to win here in Sepang and I am going to go for that. We (Hamilton and I) are pushing each other very hard on the race track and even off the race track in many different areas.

“It is a g reat bat t le and everything counts,” Rosberg added. — Bernama