Rosberg can beat Hamilton to title - Coulthard

Nico Rosberg is right back in the running for the 2015 title.

That is the view of former F1 driver turned broadcaster David Coulthard, following the German driver’s emphatic win in Austria.

"I did not doubt for one second that Nico can beat Lewis (Hamilton)," he told Sport Bild.

Hamilton, the reigning world champion, earlier looked to have established a clear hierarchy at Mercedes this year, but Coulthard insisted of Rosberg: "He is not a number two and will not be.

"I can tell, because I was in a similar situation," the Scot said, referring to his days alongside Mika Hakkinen at McLaren.

Coulthard said that while Rosberg is "super fast and extremely professional", often people simply take more notice of Hamilton because he is more controversial and brash, wearing diamond earrings and "gold chains".

The differences between the pair, however, is mere "details", Coulthard added.

Team boss Toto Wolff agrees that Rosberg is definitely world championship material, and in 2015 is "In a good mood, positive, balanced, calm — like someone who has been waiting for his chance.

"When Nico has a perfect day, he is hard to beat," he said, explaining that Hamilton has often had the edge in 2015 because Rosberg does not enjoy the car’s tendency to "oversteer".

And, with just ten points separating them after eight races, Wolff promises that Mercedes will not "intervene" in their title battle.

"The (Mercedes) brand would suffer from that, and formula one too," he said.