19/10/2015
NEWS STORY
Lewis Hamilton: It's been great to catch up with the team back at the factories and to celebrate together the amazing achievements of this year. I can't say enough how grateful I am for all the hard work and it's important that we savour these moments. Now, we head off to Austin, which is definitely one of the highlights of the year for me. I love the States and spend a lot of time over there, so it's a weekend I always look forward to. I've learned from experience that nothing is ever done until it's done in this sport, so I won't be taking anything for granted going into the weekend. I'm going into this next race with the same approach I've had all year. There are four races left for me to get this Championship tied up and as long as it's done by the time I cross the line in Abu Dhabi that's what really counts. I'm excited to get out there, give my best and if I can come away with a third Stetson hat that would be unbelievable.
Nico Rosberg: Being back at the factories and seeing everyone so happy was just the boost I needed after a tough Sunday in Russia. The whole team deserves this moment and what we've achieved together is really amazing. Hopefully this is just the start. With four races left and a big gap to Lewis, it's clear that the title is a long shot for me now. But it's not in me to give up or back down, so I'll be pushing flat out to the end and hopefully having some fun out there in the final few rounds this year. I really want to enjoy the next races, as our Silver Arrow is such a great car and gives me the chance to end the year with a few more wins. Austin is definitely somewhere that you can have fun too, so I'm looking forward to going back there. It's a great track to drive, I got pole there last year, and I'm coming off the back of a really strong weekend in Russia in terms of my performance, so if I can repeat all of that then I'll be in a good position. Bring it on!
Toto Wolff, Head of Mercedes-Benz Motorsport: It's been a proud week for everybody in Brackley, Brixworth and Stuttgart. We can talk about chassis and Power Units winning titles. But really it's about people - and every one of those men and women is a deserved World Champion. We now have four races left to make sure our 2015 objectives are complete, with the Drivers' title still on the line. Lewis is now within touching distance - but I know that his focus is only on winning the next race. For Nico, bad luck has played a big part this year and it would be a huge mountain to climb. But he is a fighter and we have seen many times that he will keep pushing until the very end. Of course, there is still a third party in the mix and we, as a team, must make absolutely sure that our drivers have everything they need to make sure it's a Silver Arrow that comes out on top. Two retirements from the last three races is not up to our standards and we must ensure that every little detail is covered to give them that opportunity.
Paddy Lowe, Executive Director (Technical): It was great to secure our second Constructors' Championship in Russia with a great drive from Lewis to take the win. This title is thoroughly deserved by all at Brackley and Brixworth after a fantastic team effort over a number of years. However, it was not sealed entirely in the way we would have wanted after Nico's retirement unfortunately prevented what looked a likely 1-2 finish. As a result, his push for the Drivers' Championship now looks to be a tough task - but you can never give up in this business and we know Nico certainly won't be doing so. At the same time, we go to Austin with the potential to secure that title with Lewis, who has been in superb form. It's up to us to provide both drivers with the tools they need to close out a successful end to the campaign. It's our fourth visit to the Circuit of the Americas, which is a very interesting circuit. Multiple elevation changes, a good variety of corners and a track surface which makes it tricky to understand the tyres, all combine to provide a good challenge. With a growing and enthusiastic fan base from all across the USA watching on, we'll be looking to tackle that challenge head on and put on a great show for the crowds.