Nico Rosberg admits he needs to start winning again if he is to overhaul Hamilton

Nico Rosberg admits he needs to start winning again if he is to overhaul Lewis Hamilton in the fight for the 2014 Drivers’ Championship.

The German hasn’t stood atop the podium since his home race at Hockenheim in July and has seen a 29-point advantage following the Belgian GP turn into a 17-point deficit after Sunday’s race in Russia.

“I just know I need to go out and win races now and see how it goes,” Rosberg told Sky Sports News HQ.

The double points on offer in Abu Dhabi could see a 14-point swing rather than the usual seven if the Mercedes drivers finish one-two which could prove critical.

“Yes for sure I love it,” laughed Rosberg when asked if he was now a fan of the controversial rule.

Despite a first lap pitstop in Russia, Rosberg recovered to second to prevent major damage being done to his title challenge, but he admits he didn’t think it would be possible to do 52 laps on one set of tyres.

“No I didn’t [think it was possible]. I was driving to achieve that, but I didn’t know if it was possible or not and it was 24 laps more than we thought we theoretically could do on one set of tyres before that race in the strategy meeting,” he said. 

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

“So I knew it was going to be on the edge, but I am very happy that it worked out and in hindsight it was really damage limiting to come second after the mess-up in Turn 1 which was very, very annoying for sure. But then of course after the race I was very, very happy for everyone else securing the title,” Rosberg added, in reference to the Constructors' Championship which Mercedes secured on Sunday.

Rosberg is now the hunter in the title fight, having led for much of the season. But team-mate and championship leader Lewis Hamilton says he won’t be going on the defensive.

“I don’t feel like I’m being the hunted, I feel like I’m hunting – I’ve been saying that all year," he said. "I’m hunting for the championship. Just because I’m at the top going towards it, it doesn’t mean I’m not still hunting for it. There are three races still to go, a lot of points still to get, so I need to get them.”