Nico Rosberg has vowed to avoid a repeat of the pain of Formula One world championship defeat to Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton this season.

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A wheel has yet to turn in anger in the new season but the expectation already is that Mercedes will continue to dominate. It means the fight for the drivers’ crown is likely to be a further showdown between reigning champion Hamilton and his team-mate Rosberg.

Last year Hamilton reeled in Rosberg’s early advantage with a run of six victories in the final seven races to clinch his second title.

Rosberg, though, is determined to gain revenge as the 29-year-old German said: “I have focused on pushing myself even harder for the rematch with Lewis.

“In the end, it comes down to who can put the best season together overall, and I have to make sure it’s the other way around this time.

“Having said that, my team-mate is one of many strong competitors I have to beat if I want to be world champion, so I’m just focused on being the absolute best I can be.

“I now know the feeling of winning races and I intend to do a lot more of that, but I also know the feeling of not winning in the end and I don’t intend to repeat that experience.

“It’s a huge motivation for me and gives me even more determination for 2015.”

Meanwhile, Giedo van der Garde’s fight for a race seat for the 2015 season should move a step nearer to a conclusion tomorrow.

Van der Garde, who was axed as test driver by Sauber at the end of last season, claims he was promised a full-time race seat for the forthcoming campaign.

Sauber eventually hired Sweden’s Marcus Ericsson and Brazilian Felipe Nasr, but Van der Garde has already seen an arbitration panel in Switzerland rule in his favour and is now looking for that decision to be enforced ahead of the season-opener.

The Supreme Court in Victoria, Australia, announced yesterday via its official Twitter account that a judgement in Van der Garde’s case would be reserved until 10am local time (03:00 UAE time).