Rosberg: Abu Dhabi victory could be springboard to 2016 title

The German is on a roll at the moment, having taken pole position in the last five races and having won the Mexican and Brazilian Grands Prix.

Ahead of the season finale at the Yas Marina circuit, Rosberg says that if he can pull off another success over Lewis Hamilton then it would be a big boost for his winter preparations.

"The rules are staying the same for next year so whatever we learn this year applies for next year," he said. "That's not my priority - I want to win the race.

"But if I do well this year it can't but help for next year so it does come into it. And over the winter the new car a lot of things change. Not a complete reset but partial."

No explanation

Although there have been various theories about why Rosberg has enjoyed an uplift in form in recent races – including the championship pressure not being on him or tyre pressure changes since the Italian Grand Prix, Rosberg himself is not convinced there is a simple explanation.

He has distanced himself from suggestions that Hamilton made in Brazil that a change to the car since Singapore may have contributed.

"I'm not really sure what he's referring to, but there is no change in the feel of the car or anything," he said.

For me it was always very close before and now it has just swung the other way and its very close.

"But I'm ahead and lately I've been quicker and that's it. Last year I was quicker in qualifying, the beginning of this year not and now I am again.

"It is just to-ing and fro-ing and at the moment I am the one who has the little bit of the upper hand and that's it."