Nico hopes Queen will make him king
He knows time's running out to secure a world title as he turns to rock band and Singapore fans for inspiration
Nico Rosberg once revealed the song he would pick to play in the cockpit while racing was Queen's "Don't Stop Me Now" from 1979.
The Mercedes ace might just decide to listen to Freddie Mercury belt out the tune, ahead of the Singapore Airlines Formula 1 Grand Prix this weekend.
The rock classic might as well be his theme song heading into the 15th race of the season, signifying momentum and full of optimism.
The German won the last two Grands Prix, in Spa and Monza, pulling to within just two points of his Mercedes teammate and arch rival, Lewis Hamilton at the top of the standings.
Rosberg is now 31, a father to daughter Alaia, and is still chasing a maiden world crown.
He finished runner-up to Briton Hamilton in the drivers' championship in 2014 and 2015, by 67 points, and then 55.
At the moment, Rosberg holds the unenviable title of being the driver with the most victories (21) without winning a drivers' championship.
He knows this season represents his best opportunity at changing that.
At a public appearance organised by luxury watch brand IWC Schaffhausen at ION Orchard yesterday, he was asked about how he felt ahead of a milestone 200th Formula 1 race on Sunday, and Rosberg said: "It's unbelievable I've done so many races already.
"So I'm not one of the young guys anymore, which feels a bit strange.
"But apart from that, I don't really think about it.
"I'm here, I'm ready to win the race and I'm excited about this weekend."
This year also marks Rosberg's 10th as a Formula 1 driver, and he quipped: "Time always goes fast.
"Especially with my daughter, she just turned one last weekend and she's growing everyday."
He later added: "My world out there in a race car, of course, is all about time.
"I'm judged by time on every single lap, and every time I'm out there, in free practice, in qualifying, it always has to be very fast.
"So I'm always making up (for) time."
This weekend will be a great time to make up for nights to forget in previous outings in downtown Singapore.
Two years ago, he led Hamilton by 22 points in the drivers' championship, but was left stuck on the grid at the start of the formation lap due to electronic problems.
He later started from pit lane and lasted just 13 laps before retiring.
Hamilton went on to win the race and went three points ahead of Rosberg, and he went on to lift the title that season.
Rosberg has never managed a podium finish in Singapore, the closest being two fourth-place finishes in 2013 and 2015.
He has made no secret of how much he dislikes the night race, with its twists, turns, heat and humidity - "I lose three or four kilos during the race" - but insists he can change all that, with the support of his fans.
Indeed, he was mobbed at ION yesterday, with over 250 fans clamouring to snap wefies or ask for autographs, with desperate shouts of "Nico! Nico!" punctuating his 15-minute appearance at the mall.
Turning to his supporters, Rosberg said: "I'll be out there doing my best for sure, and with your support, I can make it happen."
Who knows? If he's inspired enough by Queen, he might just travel at the speed of light and go supersonic, on the Marina Bay street circuit.
On show
Queen + Adam Lambert will be entertaining the racegoers at the Zone 4 Padang Stage tomorrow night from 10.30pm. The entertainers have garnered a concert audience of over one million people since first sharing the stage for the final of American Idol in May 2009.
It’s a race I have enjoyed but it’s always very long. You can be lucky or unlucky with the safety cars, which is not what you hope for as a driver, you prefer it to be fair and square. If it plays in your favour then you take it and if it works against you, it’s quite annoying but that’s the nature of a street circuit.
— Ferrari driver Sebatian Vettel on the Singapore Grand Prix
Touts beware
To combat touts, organisers of the 2016 Formula 1 Singapore Airline Singapore Grand Prix have set tickets aside in a number of categories for sale on-site only.
Race promoters Singapore GP have taken the step after touts first caught the attention of police officers in 2011.
They were waiting outside food outlets which were stationed along the way, en route to the race venue.
Tickets that are re-sold are typically sold at prices way over the original fee.
Some would even say they're sold at prices that soar ridiculously high.
Holders of illegally-purchased tickets may be denied entrance to the race because it is a breach of Conditions of Sale and Entry.
Singapore GP advise fans who have yet to purchase race tickets to do so from any of their official ticket sales outlets. The Conditions of Sale and Entry as well as the list of these official outlets can be found on their official website at www.singaporegp.sg.
- SWETHA SUNDARARAJAN
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