Nico Rosberg vows "I've got nothing to lose" in Lewis Hamilton title scrap ahead of Singapore Grand Prix

Rosberg still believes that he can challenge the world title despite falling 53 points behind Hamilton following the Italian Grand Prix

Title challenge: Rosberg is set to continue his title challenge in Singapore

Nico Rosberg admitted “I’ve got nothing to lose” as he vowed to go all out to rescue his fading title hopes in Sunday’s Singapore night race.

The German slipped 53 points behind his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton when his engine failed twice at the last round in Monza.

While Hamilton’s seventh victory in 12 races means he does not need not need to triumph again this year to become champion.

For Rosberg, though, things are getting desperate.

“Obviously, Monza didn't go to plan,” he said.

Last time out - Italian Grand Prix in pictures:

“It was gutting to miss out on a good result so close to the end but now I approach the final seven races with the attitude that there's nothing to lose.

“It's maximum attack and I won't be giving up the fight, no way. Singapore is one of my favourite races, so that's a good place to start.

“It's so tough on everyone - physically and mentally - and I love that challenge.

“I was only a few thousandths off pole last year and feeling good for the race until a problem with the steering wheel ended my weekend.

Pressure: Rosberg wants to ramp up the pressure on Hamilton

"I know I've got the pace to win there, so I'm hoping for a clean weekend and a chance to unleash this silver beast under the lights.”

While Rosberg has not won one since the Austrian GP in June and desperately needs to get back on the victory trail jet-setting Hamilton has won three of the last four rounds.

“Monza was an awesome weekend for me - one of the best I've had in Formula One,” said the world champion.

“The car this team has built is just incredible and I can't thank them enough for all their hard work.

Incredible: Rosberg is delighted with the speed of his car

“Of course, it was a shame for Nico and the crew to have the retirement - but I know he'll bounce back and I'm looking forward to another battle in Singapore.

“This race is always a highlight of the season - a great city which looks really spectacular under the lights with the tricky street circuit below - my favourite kind of track to drive.

“You've got to stay 100% focused for a full two hours, which is tougher than it sounds with the crazy humidity.

“Any small slip and you're in the barrier, so maintaining that total concentration is crucial.

“I've won there twice now - both times from pole, which shows you how important qualifying is too. It won't be easy to make it three - far from it.

“But I'm riding high right now and I'll be pushing for that hat-trick.”

The popular night race is back to back with the next round in Japan seven days later but the tiny principality is suffering from near critical levels of smog caused by man-made forest fires to clear oil palm forests of nearby Indonesia.

Lewis Hamilton awed by Ayrton Senna comparison as history beckons

Mercedes driver could match Brazilian legend's records for race victories and consecutive pole positions this weekend in Singapore

Lewis Hamilton says he is humbled at being compared to Ayrton Senna as he closes in on matching a raft of his boyhood hero's F1 records.

Hamilton will draw level with Senna for race victories if he prevails at Singapore while another pole position would match the Brazilian's all-time record for successive poles in F1. 

Of even greater value would be a third world championship, which Hamilton, 53 points ahead with seven races remaining, is poised to secure to equal Senna's career haul.

"Since I was a boy I have always wanted to emulate Ayrton and be as similar to him as l could – whilst still being myself," Hamilton told Sky Sports News HQ. "I've always wanted to drive a car like he could or handle a car like he could.

"It's quite surreal to think that 20 years later l am fighting for a similar number of podiums or championships, but we have to remember that if he continued he would have won many more. But l feel proud to be in terms of results to be similar to such a great."

Hamilton v Senna: How they compare

Hamilton has been in the form of his life in 2015, thrashing team-mate Nico Rosberg 11-1 in qualifying and winning seven races. His triumph at last week's Italian GP was as emphatic as it was complete: with a winning margin measured at 25 seconds, Hamilton's victory completed only the second 'Grand Slam' of his F1 career as he led every lap from pole position before setting the race's fastest lap and taking the chequered flag first.

Just don't tell him that he must be tiring of such relentless domination. 

"People must think when they are watching that it must get boring but it really doesn't," said Hamilton. "You are always faced with a challenge and you are always pushing yourself to get better. It's pretty much impossible to get the perfect lap so you are always chasing the perfect lap and every Sunday feels different – you wake up on the wrong side of bed, your mood or your energy levels feel different, and you never know what is going to happen in a race. Every win has felt like it is the first time.

"A thousand people help me achieve what we achieve. While I get to stand on the podium I only do so as a representative of a huge group of people. I'm very lucky to have worked with so many great people throughout my career in F1. I've won a race in every year I've been in F1 and that's what l live to do.

"The last couple years have been the best of my life."