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Mercedes F1 team urges Nico Rosberg to up his game in qualifying

Toto Wolff has urged Nico Rosberg to start getting the job done in qualifying if he is to fight back against Lewis Hamilton in this year's Formula 1 world title fight

Mercedes motorsport boss Wolff feels Hamilton is "on a roll" after the 30-year-old followed up his 48th pole position in F1 with his 39th victory by taking the chequered flag in Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix.

In qualifying Hamilton has claimed 10 poles to Rosberg's one, a stark turnaround compared to last year when the score was 12 to seven in the German's favour.

Asked what Rosberg had to do to regain the momentum, Wolff replied: "Get half the job done in qualifying. That is crucial to getting off the line in the lead.

"Lewis just seems to be on a roll, but it's interesting.

"Last year we had the discussion when Nico was having the upperhand in qualifying, but Lewis scored the points.

"This year Lewis' record is impressive, as I say he's on a roll, in a good place in his life, is able to perform when it matters and that's shown by the record - 10-1.

"He has just had some awesome weekends - his pace at Spa was incredible in qualifying where he was able to pull out a lap time."

While Hamilton appears to have the momentum in the title fight, Wolff dismissed suggestions Rosberg cannot get back into contention.

"That's a bit harsh. I don't see it like this," said Wolff.

"We have seen very good weekends where they are often split by fractions, by thousandths of a second.

"If you have the same car, the same resources, it's difficult to gain an advantage, and this is where Nico finds himself today."

Rosberg added: "It would help to be in front more often than not [in qualifying], like last year, but last year sometimes I lacked a bit of racecraft in the races and lost out.

"This year, if I keep on going strongly in that area then I can make it [a world championship win] happen, even if I'm second most of the time in qualifying."

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