Quickfire interview: Nico Rosberg

On a flying lap around the 20-turn Circuit of the Americas, Nico Rosberg has a hell of a lot going on.

While hitting top end at about 210 miles per hour in the Mercedes-Benz PU106C Hybrid Turbo V6-powered F1 W07 Silver Arrow, the German-born wheelman's mind is, literally and figuratively, racing, while his hands are a quicksilver blur as they operate the dials, switches and buttons on the steering wheel.

And all of this while staying true to the ABCs of the world's greatest form of motorsport - acceleration, braking and cornering - and trying to keep his three-time world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton in his mirrors.

Yes, things happen in milliseconds in F1, including point and shoot interviews with ham-fisted American racing journalists (such as this one). During a quick abbreviation in his rapid-fire day of media and sponsorship obligations at COTA, Nico Rosberg took our rapid fire questions, processed them as fast as the gears that ping through the eight-speed transmission of his race car, and provided answers as clean and crisp as the lines he followed on his way to a runner-up finish on Sunday afternoon in the Lone Star state.

As a racer who has been in Formula 1 since 2006, how has your perception and understanding of the sport changed?

NICO ROSBERG: It hasn't changed that much, really. It's stayed pretty similar. But of course the car has changed massively because now we have Hybrid engines. But apart from that, everything is pretty similar.

Do you enjoy driving the 1.6 liter V6 powered Mercedes-Benz F1 W07 as much as you did the 2.4-liter V8 powered cars you ran in during the first eight years of your career?

NR: Yes, I do because it's always fun to drive such an awesome machine on the limit, and that's always really exciting. Of course you could say that it would be even more fun if we could attack in the races more, because we do have to manage the tires quite a lot, so we can't always go flat out. It would be nice to be able to push a bit more in races, but apart from that, it's so awesome to drive these cars.

How different is the current breed of F1 car to drive when compared to the cars you started your career in?

NR: The current engine is a little bit better just because you have more power. The only thing that is worse now is the sound. In the past the cars used to make a very, very loud noise and I think that was part of the atmosphere that the sport has. Now it's a pity because the cars are now so much more quiet.

As a driver, what are you hoping for in the 2017 cars, in terms of satisfaction in driving them and the type of show they'll put on?

NR: I'm just hoping for it to be more fun. If we can go faster and faster, it is always more exciting.

You studied engineering in college. Does that type of educational background factor in and help you in F1?

NR: Yeah, for sure it helps, because I always try to get the car to my liking and set it up perfectly, because if I don't have a well set up car, I won't be able to go very fast. So yes, the engineering understanding I have, I think that helps in that area.

Who were your heroes as a kid?

NR: Mika Hakkinen (RIGHT). My dad was managing him and he was fighting Michael Schumacher.

Were there other racers you admired and looked up to as a young man?

NR: Yes, Michael Schumacher and all the great drivers from the past, like Fangio, Senna, Prost and all those great drivers.

How was it to be teamed with Michael Schumacher at Mercedes-Benz?

NR: It was an amazing experience with Michael because it was obvious why he was a seven-time World Champion because does everything extremely professionally. It was a very good and very interesting experience."

Did you guys get along?

NR: We got along okay. It was a neutral relationship, so it was fine.

Your father Keke won the 1982 Formula 1 world championship. Have his achievements in racing been inspiring to you?

NR: For sure. I'm very proud, of course, of what he achieved. I never saw him race F1 myself because I was too small, but I'm very proud to have a Dad that was racing and that's how the passion for racing came to me. It came from watching my Dad.

As young guys, both you and Lewis Hamlton raced karts together. How was that?

NR: It was very fun because at the time we were very good friends. We were racing everywhere and fighting for the championships. It was a very cool period. It was pretty incredible because at that time we used to go on holiday and we would say, 'Imagine in 15 years' time we'd be racing for the best team F1 and fighting for the championship in F1." It's quite amazing that that has happened.

What would it mean to you to win your very first Formula 1 World Championship?

NR: To win the title, it's been my dream. But at the moment it is not something that I want to think about, so I can't really answer that.