Bahrain GP: Nico Rosberg 'needs points back' in title fight

Nico Rosberg says it is important he finishes ahead of Lewis Hamilton for the first time this year at Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix. 

The German trails his Mercedes team-mate by 17 points after three races and has neither out-qualified nor finished ahead of the Briton so far in 2015.
"I do think I can beat him here," he said. "But I also thought that the last two races and it didn't go that way.

"I am here to try to make it happen, of course. I like the track."
Double world champion Hamilton has won eight of the last 10 races dating back to the Italian Grand Prix in September last year and has beaten Rosberg four times in a row, including the final race of last season in Abu Dhabi.


"It was very important to beat him in Malaysia two races ago," added Rosberg, who finished third behind Hamilton and race winner Sebastian Vettel in Sepang.
"He is 17 points ahead. That's a fact. I need to get points back as soon as possible.
"Of course last year he had a run of four wins and then right after that I had the best run of my year for quite a lot of time."

Rosberg said he no regrets about criticising Hamilton's driving in China last weekend.
He accused Hamilton of compromising his race by backing him towards the Ferrari of Vettel. Mercedes managed to secure a one-two anyway.

"We discussed it on Sunday evening and then everything was clarified and cleared," Rosberg said. "The team leaders did a very constructive meeting and then from then it was good and on we went."
Asked whether his statements had handed a psychological edge to Hamilton, Rosberg said: "Maybe because I am standing here and I have to answer all these questions, but other than that no, I would do it again.

"I felt the need to state the facts and there was the need to discuss things. I wouldn't do anything differently. And now for me it is a thing of the past.