Ross Brawn: Why I am backing Nico Rosberg to beat Lewis Hamilton to Formula One title... just

Title charge: Nico Rosberg can end the contest in Brazil this weekend
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When the lights go out at the Brazilian Grand Prix, Ross Brawn will take his customary seat on the sofa at home and, as he puts it, “start shouting at the TV about tyres and strategies”.

One of Formula One’s most successful protagonists — he enjoyed title success with Williams, Benetton, Ferrari, Brawn and, from afar, Mercedes — laughs at the image it conjures up, sheepishly admitting: “I get quite passionate about it occasionally.”

But such a passion is understandable as Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg scrap it out for world drivers’ crown and Brawn’s once eponymous team, now the behemoth that is Mercedes, the undisputed No1 car on the grid.

Rosberg goes into the penultimate race of the season on Saturday with a 19-point lead over his team-mate and the favourite to be crowned world champion at the season finale in Abu Dhabi, but Brawn warned the German’s title hopes could yet unravel.

“It could go down to the wire,” said Brawn. “Lewis has the impetus but Nico knows he can win the championship without winning any more races. But that can be difficult, as trying to put in a controlled performance in a race is tough. It can cause you to trip over and, for Nico, that’s the big challenge.

“Also, this could be his last chance to win the world title with the 2017 regulations potentially reducing the Mercedes advantage. But it’s been said in seasons past that Nico has blown his chance at a world title and each year he gets better. You’d certainly say this is his very best chance to be world champion.”

It was Brawn who lured Hamilton to the team initially by going for a cup of tea at the three-time world champion’s mum’s house to sell the prospect of a move from McLaren to him. While he only had one season with both Hamilton and Rosberg under his principalship, the 61-year-old admits to knowing “both characters intensely” and revelled in “their different mindsets”.

But he admits to having a slight favourite for the title. “Both would be worthy champions, but I think I’d marginally have to go for Nico. It’s because he’s so tenacious and tough, and Lewis has won it twice at Mercedes. Really, I’d love either of them to win, but it would be a nice balance if Nico were to do it.

‘Lewis and Nico are still on good terms, and that’s virtually unheard of in F1’

Ross Brawn

“The contrast of the pair is great. Lewis is instinctive and fast, with so much natural talent. Nico is slightly less talented but has a more intense application. Within that they’ve picked up facets from each other as the title race has ebbed and flowed both this season and in previous seasons.”

It is a friendship and partnership that has fissured and frayed through their on-track rivalry and under intense media spotlight but not quite to the extent that some believe, according to their former boss.

“These are two drivers battling for the world championship and they’re still on relatively good terms, and that’s virtually unheard of in this sport,” said Brawn. “Of course, they both have their moments but it’s a huge credit to the team to keep them in line. Once that driver relationship breaks down, it sucks energy from the team and can be very damaging. It’s a credit to Mercedes and both drivers that that hasn’t happened and they’re still working well together.”

Hamilton goes into the race weekend at Interlagos bidding for a hat-trick of wins but with his work cut out to seal a fourth world title. Were he to do it, would it top the previous three?

“You could definitely say that would be his best achievement,” said Brawn.

Total Competition by Ross Brawn and Adam Parr, published by Simon & Schuster. Hardback, £20.

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