Nico Rosberg says he is not contemplating the prospect of winning his first title this year, despite scoring victories at the first four races of the year.
Rosberg's winning streak extends back to the Mexican Grand Prix last year, giving him seven straight victories over two seasons and four consecutive wins at the start of this year. The record for the most victories at the start of the season currently stands at five -- shared by Nigel Mansell and Michael Schumacher -- and is a number Rosberg could match with a win in Spain this weekend.
Every driver in the history of the sport who has scored three or more consecutive victories at the start of a season has gone on to win the title, but with a 43-point lead over Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg is looking at the challenge ahead rather than the history books.
"Yes, I have a good points lead, but there are still 425 points up for grabs and I am only 40-something points ahead now," he said. "With 425 points left to go it is not even worth talking about yet at this point in time."
Rosberg's stock response to questions about the historical precedent of consecutive wins at the start of the year has been that the other drivers did not have Lewis Hamilton as a team-mate. The German says he has no doubt that Hamilton will start to challenge again in the coming races after a run of bad luck since the start of the year.
"Lewis is driving as strong as ever as we have seen in the last couple of weeks, so for so sure he will bounce back and he doesn't have an issue with fighting back in his head. I'm sure we will see a lot more of the battle between us and it will always be a tough battle."