'Angry' Rosberg takes pole for Mexico GP

Nico Rosberg rejected his Mercedes team chief Toto Wolff's claim that he was motivated by anger when he secured pole position Saturday for Sunday's Mexican Grand Prix.

Instead, he said, he is tackling the race weekend as "business as usual", keeping his head down and going on full attack, as always.

Wolff, when asked what was driving Rosberg to take four successive poles, was brief and to the point.

"Angry" he said, with a broad smile.

His reference to Rosberg's anger was associated with the pair's wheel-banging duel at the first corner of last Sunday's United States Grand Prix won by Hamilton, whose triumph secured the title.

But Rosberg, who was disappointed at Hamilton's actions in Austin and his decision to avoid clear-the-air talks or an apology for driving him off the track, rejected all suggestions that he is now motivated by anger.

"No, definitely not," he said. "No difference, just attack like always... I'm not angry, that wouldn't be the (right) approach.

"I just get my head down and keep going. (There are) three more races to go, business as usual... Full attack as always.

"I don't really have a precise explanation here.

"I have felt good all weekend and doing great, found a good balance in qualifying and due to the engineers in team was able to push and do a really good lap."

He said he had switched off from worrying about events in Austin and had no worries about battling Hamilton, who starts second on the grid in Sunday's race, at the opening corner again.

He added also that nothing had changed and he had not had any talks with Hamilton.

"It is not different," he said.

"It will be a battle and what is in the past is in the past and now we move forward.

"This is a good start for sure, starting from pole.

"It is the best place to start.

"There is a long run to Turn One and then it will be interesting."

Rosberg has only won two of the last 10 races he has started from pole position and, with 20 poles, has more than any other driver who has not won a championship.

GRID:

1st row

Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes)

Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)

2nd row

Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari)

Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Red Bull)

3rd row

Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull)

Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams)

4th row

Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams)

Max Verstappen (NED/Toro Rosso)

5th row

Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India)

Nico Hulkenberg (GER/Force India)

6th row

Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso)

Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus)

7th row

Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Lotus)

Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber)

8th row

Felipe Nasr (BRA/Sauber)

Alexander Rossi (USA/Marussia)

9th row

Will Stevens (GBR/Marussia)

Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari)

10th row

Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren)

Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren)