Championship leader Nico Rosberg insists he will not settle for second in this week's United States Grand Prix despite knowing that he can afford to finish behind Lewis Hamilton and still clinch his maiden title.
Rosberg, who was second to Hamilton in opening practice in Austin on Friday, is 33 points ahead of his Mercedes team-mate heading into the final four rounds of the season.
The German, a winner of nine races this year, can afford to finish second on three occasions, and third at one grand prix, to end Hamilton's run of consecutive championships.
But Rosberg insists he will not be adapting his strategy as the title race reaches its crescendo.
"I am aware of that but I will definitely not be putting any thought into that," said Rosberg, when asked if he would be happy to finish behind his Mercedes team-mate at the remaining races in Austin, Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.
"I am definitely going for the win rather than trying to bring home any second places. If I am in second place behind Lewis, I will still be pushing for the win."
Rosberg has won four of the five races since the sport's summer break to turn a 19-point deficit to Hamilton into a healthy advantage.
But the 31-year-old, who has made a point of refusing to talk up his chances of winning what would be a maiden championship, does not feel he is edging closer to the title despite his lead over Hamilton.
"It still feels a long way away," said Rosberg. "I choose to think about Austin and the weekend I have here. I am going to continue that. I don't suppress those thoughts, I just choose something else.
"Why waste energy thinking about other things? It's better to stay in the zone and focus and be at my best, and that has been working well so I am going to stick with it.
"I don't know how much pressure Lewis is putting on himself. I am just trying to win this race, as I have done for the past three years."
Source: PA
