Pacesetter Rosberg hoping for a foxy season

NICO Rosberg compared himself to English Premier League leaders Leicester City this week when asked to reflect on his winning start to the Formula One season.

The 30-year-old German, who beat his Mercedes teammate and defending three-time world champion Lewis Hamilton in the season-opening Australian Grand Prix, said he wanted to be a dark horse in the title race.

“Maybe I can be like Leicester City, not one of the main favourites, but win and then, well, just go,” the soccer-loving driver laughed. “I have made a good start.” Rosberg added that he relished a chance to win again in today’s Bahrain Grand Prix where, he said, “there is always a good chance to overtake”.

“It is not done or dusted if I don’t get the start right,” he told Sky Sports News. “I can win if I am not in front because you can always overtake.”

Earlier, Rosberg dismissed the statistical boost he gained by winning his fourth successive race and said he is prepared for another close scrap with Hamilton.

Rosberg, who took advantage of a poor start from pole position by the defending champion in the season-opening race, said he felt satisfied with his efforts in Melbourne. But, he added, he did not consider last year’s results relevant to this season — and was looking ahead, not backwards.

“It was a very important win for me — a good way to start the season,” he said.

“Four wins? That may be nice, statistically, but I’m not thinking much about last year — except that it gave me a positive mood going to Melbourne.

“Now I’m here,” he said. “Another race, another weekend. It was very important to start the new season with a win so, so far, perfect job!”

Rosberg’s confidence was not dented, he suggested, by Hamilton’s return to form in practice and qualifying in Melbourne, where the Englishman claimed his 50th pole. Hamilton, however, said he too felt confident.

“I have a good feeling about my pace,” Hamilton said. “I was ahead all weekend, until the race started, last time out, so I’m con- NINE-TIME world champion Valentino Rossi hopes to celebrate 20 years as a world championship rider with a second successive Grand Prix of Argentina victory today.

The 37-year-old Italian made his debut in the lower 125cc class in Malaysia in 1996 before winning his first world title the next year.

A 250cc world crown followed two seasons later, placing him comfortably among the greats.

Into his third decade, Rossi has claimed 112 victories, 211 podiums, 61 pole positions as well as 92 fastest laps.

Victory at Argentina’s Rio Hondo track 12 months ago set Rossi on his way to what looked increasingly like it would be a 10th title until his season imploded in the closing stages and Yamaha teammate Jorge Lorenzo snatched a third world title instead.

“Last year, we had an excellent race,” said Rossi, who fought wheel to wheel with bitter Honda rival Marc Marquez in a duel which ended with the Spaniard falling off his bike before coming home in second. —