Rosberg denies pole lap was driven by anger

Mexican Grand Prix polesitter Nico Rosberg has denied that anger is now his motivation after he had been beaten to the Formula 1 World Championship for the second consecutive season by Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W06 leads team mate Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W06

Polesitter Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 Team, second place Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 Team and third place Sebastian Vettel, Ferrari

Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1 W06 and Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W06

When asked for his opinion of Rosberg’s pace in qualifying, Mercedes motorsport chief Toto Wolff simply replied: “Angry!”

But Rosberg refuted this: “No, definitely not. No difference, just attack like always.

“I’m not angry, that wouldn’t be the approach. I just get my head down and keep going. Three more races to go, business as usual. Full attack as always.

“I don't really have a precise explanation [for his advantage at this track]. I have felt good all weekend and doing great, found a good balance in qualifying and due to the engineers in team was able to push and do a really good lap."

Attention now on Turn 1

Following his clash with Hamilton at the first corner in Austin, Rosberg says it is not playing on his mind ahead of tomorrow’s run to Turn 1.

When asked if anything had happened behind the scenes, he replied: “It is not different, it will be a battle and what is in the past is in the past and now we move forward.

“This is a good start for sure, starting from pole," he added. "A long run to Turn 1, and then I am sure we have a good race car, will be interesting tyre-wise – there was some [degradation] stuff going on Friday which will not be so easy to handle in the race.”