’Favourite opponent’ Rosberg ready to beat Hamilton

Nico Rosberg says he is determined to beat reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton to the 2015 title.

Last year, the utterly dominant Mercedes duo fought a close and intense battle for F1’s biggest prize.

"Nico Rosberg has been strengthened by the defeat," the German driver, referring to himself in the third person, told Germany’s Sport Bild.

"He is more cunning, because he has learned a lot in the past year," Rosberg added, again referring to himself.

"Now, there are fewer situations that are unknown to me," he explained. "I’m ready for anything that can happen on the track. I’m better prepared."

Rosberg said one of his weaknesses in 2014 was his wheel-to-wheel duelling against the hard-charging Hamilton.

"Hamilton did a better job (in that area)," he admitted, "so that’s what I need to improve for 2015.

"It will be a good year in any case," said the confident Rosberg, who later this year will become a father for the first time.

"In the whole of last season I did not make many mistakes. Zero mistakes is always best, but no driver can achieve that — not even Lewis."

On the subject of Hamilton, Rosberg said he expects his teammate to once again be fully motivated in 2015.

"We are both so involved in this huge competition," said the 29-year-old. "I am the favourite opponent that he wants to beat, which is motivation enough.

"It’s been that way since we were 13," Rosberg concluded.