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FORMULA 1: Nico Rosberg doesn't want to help Lewis Hamilton win the F1 title

With Hamilton on the brink of the Formula One Drivers' Championship, his team-mate just isn't that bothered after a 'plague year'

FORMULA 1: Nico Rosberg doesn't want to help Lewis Hamilton win the F1 title

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg says he doesn't want to aid team-mate Lewis Hamilton's quest for the World Championship.

In his column for German paper Bild, Rosberg wrote: "I was asked after the race in Russia if I would help Lewis if Sebastian [Vettel] managed to gain on him. But to be honest, I don't care at all. I don't think it will even come to that anyway [that he will need help]".

After 15 of the 19 races, Hamilton is first in the standings on 302 points, with Sebastian Vettel in second on 236. After a disappointing few races, including a retirement from pole position in Russia on Sunday, Rosberg has slipped to third on 229.

If Hamilton wins the next Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, and Vettel doesn’t finish, the title is his.

And Rosberg has effectively given up on it, describing 2015 as his "plague year".

He added: "I will just try to enjoy the last four races and win as many as possible".

While Rosberg’s frustrations are understandable, his lack of interest in his team-mate's potential triumph jars somewhat with an interview Hamilton gave to Sky Sports News.

The Briton said: "I have known Nico since l was four years old and we have been through ups and downs, but overall he has been a great teammate.

"The way he handles himself and behaves as a team member is great. [Sunday] was a tough day, and he has had some difficult days and l know what that is like, so l just wanted to make sure that he knew that as a team we still appreciate him."

The pair attended a party on Monday to celebrate Mercedes' Constructors Championship, where Rosberg conceded that Hamilton deserved to win.

'He has done a great season and been even more consistent than last year, so it has been a very tough battle," he told Sky Sports.

"It was tough for me coming here because l wasn't really in a celebration mood but then seeing how happy all my colleagues are makes me happy too."