Hamilton didn't give up any ballast according to Lowe

After letting the world title slip away at the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Nico Rosberg had a perfect end to the season, accumulating three successes in Mexico, Brazil and then Abu Dhabi. Each time, the German Mercedes beat his teammate Lewis Hamilton, further behind than during the first three quarters of the championship.

A relaxation after obtaining his third world title, which allowed him to join his idol Ayrton Senna on the list of prizes? A theory that Paddy Lowe, executive director in charge of technology at the Star team, does not seem to subscribe to. « I would rather say that Rosberg raised his level of play and not that Hamilton lowered his. It’s more about the man than the technique. There is probably no one more frustrated by this than Lewis himself.

Contrary to what one might think, he did not give up after winning the title. The drivers take things race by race. They don't look at the rankings, they come to a Grand Prix that they want to win. I can guarantee you that losing pisses him off. He is boiling inside. »

Find our review of the 2015 season of the World Championship F1 in issue 2041 of AUTOhebdo, available in digital version, and on newsstands.