Formula One: No regrets in sight for Rosberg

SAO PAULO - A relaxed Nico Rosberg will have no regrets if he has to rely on Formula One's new and controversial double points ruling at the season-ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix to win this year's drivers' world championship.

The 29-year-old German made this clear on Thursday when he answered questions during a pre-race news conference at Interlagos ahead of this weekend's Brazilian Grand Prix.

Rosberg, who trails Mercedes team-mate Briton Lewis Hamilton by 24 points in the title race, said he would respond if and when it happens, but expected a typical post-season debate if that scenario unfolded.

"I will respond then - and everyone has their opinion and afterwards they will debate it and that's always been the case, hasn't it?" he said with a smile.

He admitted he now faced a situation in which, with two races remaining, he was relying on someone or something else to rekindle his championship dream.

"I need to rely on something happening and it is clear and that's it, but in sports, anything can happen so I am still optimistic," he said.

Asked to describe his recent run of results which have seen Hamilton win five races in a row, Rosberg said: "A less rich run of form! It's been (the case that) Lewis has done a better job since then (the European summer) and it is pretty simple that that's it. Now, there are two races..." Rosberg was asked also to respond to reports claiming that Hamilton had reacted to their collision in Belgium by intensifying his motivation.

"Did he say we are at war?" said Rosberg with a laugh. "I don't know what his exact opinion is on things, but for me nothing has changed. It was a very intense competition and it is the same now."