(BBC)_ Nico Rosberg says the atmosphere between himself and Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton is “intense” as the title battle comes to a climax.The German can clinch the championship in Mexico this weekend if he wins and Hamilton finishes 10th or lower.
On his personal battle with Hamilton, who he has known since they were teenagers, he said: “It’s not something I think about too much.
“Of course it’s intense, but at the same time there is an easy-going side.”
Rosberg is continuing to insist he is concentrating only on each race as it comes and not thinking about the championship, a mantra he has been using since very early in the season.
He says he is “well aware” of the fact that he could win the title on Sunday.
But he added: “It has been a great season so far which has put me in this position. It is exciting to be in the championship battle with Lewis towards the end of the season.
“We’ve been there before but it is very cool.
“But I have said before my way of achieving the best performance is to focus on the things within my control and that here in Mexico is to try to win the race.”
Asked what winning the title would mean to him, Rosberg said: “It’s a childhood dream but that’s where it ends because what’s important this weekend is winning the Mexican Grand Prix and then we see what happens.
“It just feels right to focus on the things I can influence, keep it simple, be in the moment and it’s been working,so just stick with it.”
Rosberg has won nine races to Hamilton’s seven this season and leads the Briton by 26 points with a maximum of 75 available in the three remaining races.
Such is his advantage that he can afford to finish second twice and third once and still clinch the title,even if Hamilton wins all three races in Mexico, Brazil and Abu Dhabi.