Hamilton not expecting Red Bull favours in title battle

Lewis Hamilton, who will start ahead of Nico Rosberg on the front row, does not anticipate Red Bull pair of Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen taking it easy in order to avoid impacting the fight for the drivers' title.

Lewis Hamilton..."They don't owe me any favours and they don't owe Nico any favours."

Lewis Hamilton is not expecting any favours from Red Bull pair Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen as he tries to keep his title hopes alive from pole at the Brazilian Grand Prix.

Victory for Hamilton's Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg at Interlagos on Sunday will see the German, who holds a 19-point lead over the Brit, crowned world champion. Build-up to the race has been dominated by reports of a phone call Mercedes boss Toto Wolff made to the father of Verstappen, Jos, after the 19-year-old made contact with Rosberg last time out in Mexico.

> Read: Rosberg optimistic about his chances in Brazil

However, Hamilton, who will start ahead of Rosberg on the front row, does not anticipate the Red Bull pair taking it easy in order to avoid impacting the fight for the drivers' title. "We are racing. They don't owe me any favours and they don't owe Nico any favours," said the Briton.

"If it was me in their car, I'd be wanting to get the best result, get the best bonus, get the most points, be ahead of whoever you are racing against. Of course I would want to be racing hard."

Rosberg, meanwhile, suggested that a more 'relaxed' approach from the rest of the grid would help avoid any controversy. "It is normal for other drivers not to drive differently just because others drivers are driving for the championship because that is not their problem," said the German.

"But we all need to try and drive within the limits, a lot of penalties have been given recently and that is why maybe it is worth them considering a half gear, or a half something more relaxed, could be the right direction."