Nico Rosberg has said that he is "aware" that he could be crowned the 2016 world champion as soon as this weekend.

Although his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton won from pole in Austin, Rosberg's 26-point lead means that if he wins in Mexico and Hamilton retires, the German would be champion no matter what happens in Brazil or Abu Dhabi.

Hamilton clearly thinks that is a possibility, revealing that he worried throughout the US Grand Prix about a repeat of his recent engine failure in Malaysia.

"All I could think about was the car making it to the end. Nothing else," Hamilton was quoted as saying.

When asked about his first 'match point' ahead of Mexico this weekend and the possibility he could be champion, Rosberg told the APA news agency: "Of course I'm aware of it."

However, he insisted he will not change his approach anyway.

"I will focus on Mexico and trying to get the victory there," said Rosberg.

He also told Bild newspaper: "In Formula 1, you can't expect anything. If you start thinking in your mind that it's over, then you've already lost.

"So I'm still going to every race to win."

This weekend's race is followed by the Brazilian Grand Prix before the season finale in Abu Dhabi.