NICO ROSBERG'S victory at the Chinese Grand Prix marked only the 10th time in Formula One history where a driver has won the opening three races of the season - with the previous nine going on to win the world championship.
Rosberg sauntered to the chequered flag at the Shanghai International Circuit to claim a hat-trick of victories in 2016 and his sixth in succession - a streak which stretches back to last year - and one which can only be matched by Alberto Ascari, Michael Schumacher and Sebastian Vettel.
Damon Hill, the 1996 world champion, was the last driver to start the year with three consecutive wins, but Rosberg, now 36 points ahead of his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, insists it does not make him a shoo-in for the title.
"Yes, but they didn't have Lewis Hamilton as their team-mate," said Rosberg when informed of the statistic.
"I don't see it that way at all. It is a handful of races. Yes, it is going well, but this is the longest season in F1 history with Lewis Hamilton as my team-mate, a double world champion, who has been hard to beat in the past three years. It is going to be a great battle. I have a little bit of an advantage now which is good, better that way than the other way, but that is it really. I am just enjoying it and making the most of it race by race."
With the 17th win of his career, Rosberg has now surpassed Sir Stirling Moss to claim the rather unwanted record of most grand prix victories without a championship. But after losing out to Hamilton in successive seasons, does the German believe he is now a match for his team-mate in 2016?
"I don't really think about that," a poker-faced Rosberg replied.
"He's at the top of the game, fully concentrated and motivated. I am focussed on my thing and getting the job done to the best of my ability and the first three races have worked out well. It is difficult to say that I am driving much better, but of course, the experience [of challenging for the title] will help a little bit - as it is the third year I have been in this situation."
