Nico Rosberg insists he is not focusing on the championship standings at present.

After just four of the nineteen races this year, the German is already 27 points behind his Mercedes teammate and reigning world champion Lewis Hamilton.

It has triggered suggestions Rosberg is no longer capable of mounting the sort of season-long championship challenge to Hamilton as he did last year.

"Time is already running out for Rosberg this season," agreed former F1 driver and BBC commentator Allan McNish.

"If he wants to mount a challenge for the championship, he has to turn the tables on Lewis Hamilton sharpish.

"Fortunately, there is now a decent break before the next race in Spain for him to have a think about what to do next," McNish added.

29-year-old Rosberg has told Auto Motor und Sport that he is dealing with his current situation by taking each race at a time.

"I have been looking at the championship standings with one eye," he is quoted as saying. "But it's not my focus.

"I just want to have some good races," he added.

Rosberg will also be concentrating on beating Hamilton in qualifying, as he suggested his Mercedes teammate is too easily controlling races from the front.

"He controls it easily," said Rosberg. "At the beginning of the stints he takes it easy and then he pulls it back out again.

"With the same car, you can't do anything about it."