Nico Rosberg will bounce back from his current lull according to Mercedes boss Toto Wolff, who claims the German is far from beaten this season.
Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton fought until the final race of the season for the title in 2014, but this year the Briton seems to have the edge over his team-mate.
Hamilton has beaten Rosberg in every session that counts so far this year, giving him a 27 point lead – more than a race win in hand – after just four races.
Wolff insists the margin between his two drivers is “tiny” and he’s confident Rosberg will bounce back sooner or later.
“When you look at their performance in qualifying in China, for example, there were just four hundredths between them,” he told Autosport. “That is not someone who is clearly beaten.
“That is a tiny little edge which was enough for Lewis to make it on pole and control the race,” he explained. “It could have been completely different if Nico had been on pole.
“Nico wouldn’t be in Formula 1 as a multiple race winner and a challenger for the championship if he allowed himself to be destabilised after a few races.
“I fully expect him to come bouncing back. I don’t know when it will happen, but he’s always going to be there, no doubt.”
