German 17 points ahead after winning first two races of 2016; Rosberg adds his future lies at Mercedes beyond this season
Thursday 7 April 2016 17:16, UK
Nico Rosberg is anticipating a fightback from Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton after the German won the opening two races of the season.
For the second successive race, Rosberg overhauled the world champion despite starting behind him to open up a 17-point lead at the top of the championship.
However, with a record 21 race calendar in 2016 and only two grands prix completed, Rosberg knows Hamilton will come back at him during the season.
"I am not rejoicing in his issues, I am really focussed on doing my job and getting the perfect start as I did today and beating him in that way," said Rosberg.
"Lewis is going to come back, I know that because he has been so strong in the last two years."
Rosberg has now won the last five races, a run dating back to Mexico 2015, but he insists he hasn't changed his approach after suggestions he had focussed too much on what Hamilton was doing.
"I haven't changed my approach in any way. I was flat out last year and it didn't go my way, now in the first two races it has gone much more my way," he added.
"I'm just enjoying it at the moment. I'm privileged to be driving this car, I go to China and I know I will be fighting for the win and that is such a great feeling to have. It's great to celebrate with the team and it stops there for me. I'm just living in the moment."
But while Rosberg may be taking it one race at a time, long-term he sees a future at Mercedes - with the German casting doubt on suggestions his contract is definitely due to expire at the end of the season.
"That's not necessarily the case," he said.
"Contracts are not something that are on my mind at the moment, why should it be? I'm very comfortable here, we have a great relationship and I'll be here for some time to come."
