Lewis Hamilton needs to find some Zen-like mind control in Japan this weekend after a cruel engine fire left the world champion fuming in Malaysia.
As Rosberg opened a 23-point advantage in the title standings with five races remaining following his third-place finish, Hamilton raged at his misfortune and threatened to ignite a row within the Mercedes team by raising the possibility of a conspiracy against him.
"My questions are to Mercedes," the Briton demanded after Sepang, asking why of the eight cars on the grid fitted with Mercedes engines, only his have conked out this season.
"There are eight drivers and mine are the only ones who has failed. Someone has to give me some answers and it is not acceptable. Someone doesn't want me to win this year."
Hamilton has only a matter of days to dust himself down in a quick turnaround before Japan, but he can seek solace in the fact he has won in Japan three times and will be chasing a hat-trick of wins -- and the 50th of his F1 career -- in Suzuka on Sunday.
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff called Hamilton's engine trouble "a freaky coincidence" and promised to fix the gremlins.
"Our guys will get to the bottom of what happened and learn from it," he said. "There is no rational explanation or pattern in these failures. We pick ourselves up, brush the dust off and look ahead to the next race."
Negative energy
Hamilton later composed himself. "Last weekend was a massive disappointment," he said Wednesday. "But there's no use dwelling on these things -- that's just negative energy.
"I will find strength from within to fight back over these next five race weekends."
During a turbulent weekend in Malaysia, Hamilton had also moaned about the "psychological effects" of breaking up his title-winning crew by switching five mechanics to Rosberg's side of the garage.
Wolff took a dim view of Hamilton's renewed criticism of a Mercedes decision taken at the start of the season.
"No footballer would tell Jose Mourinho or Pep Guardiola who he'd like to play with," he snapped. "It's the manager's call to decide who is in the squad."
After a year plagued by technical gremlins, time is running out for the 2014 and 2015 champion Hamilton to quash Rosberg's attempt to dethrone him.
The German, who had overhauled Hamilton in the title race after three straight wins, is in the form of his life and fought back brilliantly to finish third in Malaysia following a first-corner collision with Sebastian Vettel's Ferrari.
Ricciardo will be looking to build on his first victory in two years, insisting the Red Bulls can pose a threat in what is forecast to be a wet race in Japan.
"I actually think we will be more competitive at Suzuka," said the Australian, who came home ahead of 19-year-old team-mate Max Verstappen at Sepang.
"In the rain we could be very strong. If it rains I believe we can win the race. If it's dry, Mercedes would be favourites."
AFP
Wed Oct 05 2016
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton gestures after taking pole position during the qualifying session of the Formula One Malaysian Grand Prix in Sepang on October 1, 2016. - AFP Photo/Pedro Ugarte
Systema lancar kempen #GumHealthFirst, tingkat kesedaran penjagaan gusi
Systema, pakar perlindungan gusi terkenal dari Jepun komited dalam menangani penyakit gusi yang kini berleluasa di Malaysia menerusi kempen #GumHealthFirst dan memperkenal teknologi berus gigi baharu.
Zii Jia iringi empat wakil negara ke Olimpik Paris 2024
Dua pemain perseorangan dan tiga beregu badminton negara secara rasmi disahkan slot penampilan ke Sukan Olimpik Paris 2024.
Ratusan ibu di Mexico berhimpun, tuntut kehilangan anak
Ratusan wanita Mexico yang mencari anak mereka yang hilang berhimpun di Mexico City pada Jumaat.
Protes sempena Hari Ibu itu dilakukan bagi memberi tekanan kepada pihak berkuasa supaya melakukan lebih banyak lagi untuk mencari orang tersayang mereka.
Protes sempena Hari Ibu itu dilakukan bagi memberi tekanan kepada pihak berkuasa supaya melakukan lebih banyak lagi untuk mencari orang tersayang mereka.
Pendengaran kes Jacob Zuma bermula Jumaat
Mahkamah tertinggi Afrika Selatan memulakan proses mendengar hujah undang-undang pada Jumaat sama ada bekas presiden Jacob Zuma boleh bertanding bagi kerusi parlimen.
Keputusan kes tersebut akan menjejaskan pilihan raya di seluruh negara itu pada 29 mei dan boleh membawa kepada masalah keselamatan jika beliau kalah.
Keputusan kes tersebut akan menjejaskan pilihan raya di seluruh negara itu pada 29 mei dan boleh membawa kepada masalah keselamatan jika beliau kalah.
KKB Memilih: Tetap bersemangat walaupun berkerusi roda, bertongkat
Biarpun berdepan kekangan dari segi fizikal, tetapi warga emas berusia 75 tahun ini menjadi pengundi pertama yang selesai menjalankan tanggungjawab bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Penyokong Palestin dan Israel bertembung di California
Lawatan Presiden A.S. Joe Biden ke Palo Alto, California, pada Jumaat menyaksikan pertembungan penunjuk perasaan pro-Palestin dan pro-Israel.
Penyokong Palestin menyeru Presiden untuk menyokong gencatan senjata serta menyalahkan beliau atas kehilangan lebih 40,000 nyawa orang awam.
Penyokong Palestin menyeru Presiden untuk menyokong gencatan senjata serta menyalahkan beliau atas kehilangan lebih 40,000 nyawa orang awam.
KKB Memilih: Sasar 60 peratus keluar mengundi, keputusan seawal 9 malam
Suruhanjaya Pilihan Raya (SPR) menjangkakan keputusan rasmi bagi Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) kerusi Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Kuala Kubu Baharu akan diumumkan seawal jam 9 malam.
KKB Memilih: Undi pengundi India cukup signifikan - Penganalisis
Pengundi India memainkan peranan yang cukup signifikan dalam pilihanraya kecil Kuala Kubu Baharu.
Menurut penganalisis politik Universiti Malaya, Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub, meskipun jumlah pengundi India tidak melebihi 20 peratus, suara mereka tetap akan menjadi penentu kepada keputusan dalam PRK tersebut.
Menurut penganalisis politik Universiti Malaya, Dr Mohammad Tawfik Yaakub, meskipun jumlah pengundi India tidak melebihi 20 peratus, suara mereka tetap akan menjadi penentu kepada keputusan dalam PRK tersebut.
Memukau! Magis Aina Abdul bawa penonton ke alam fantasi
Bukan sahaja terpukau dengan kelunakan dan kekuatan Aina malah iringan muzik daripada Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) membuatkan penonton seolah-olah dibawa ke alam fantasi penuh magis.
PRK KKB: 32.51 peratus sudah mengundi setakat 12 tengah hari - SPR
SPR menyasarkan peratusan keluar mengundi PRK itu sekitar 60 peratus.
F1: Pergelangan tangan patah nafi hajat Daniel Ricciardo
Pemandu Australia itu kembali ke grid untuk kali ketiganya setelah tersingkir daripada latihan kedua di Zandvoort itu, awal pagi tadi.
F1: Pasangan Red Bull mohon maaf insiden memalukan di Baku
Ricciardo melanggar bahagian belakang jentera Verstappen ketika rakan sepasukan itu berjuang untuk merebut keempat di Baku sehingga mereka gagal menamatkan baki 11 pusingan lagi.
Daniel Ricciardo juarai Grand Prix F1 Malaysia 2016
Pemandu Red Bull Racing Daniel Ricciardo dari Australia menjuarai Grand Prix F1 Petronas Malaysia 2016 di Litar Sepang, di sini hari ini.
F1: 'Nico akan dinobat juara musim ini' - Ricciardo
Daniel Ricciardo menyokong Nico Rosberg untuk menewaskan rakan sepasukan Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton dalam perebutan kejuaraan dunia Formula 1 musim ini.