Lewis fumes as blunder lets Rosberg nick pole
German thrills home fans to throw down gauntlet to his Mercedes team-mate
WITH the pressure on, Nico Rosberg delivered and arch-rival Lewis Hamilton succumbed. Maybe there is life in this Formula One title race after all.
It seems strange to say given the Mercedes team-mates are separated by just six points in the championship. But Hamilton’s charge in recent weeks has been relentless — five wins in six races seeing him overhaul the German’s 43-point lead.
That run has given the season an increasing air of inevitability which showed no signs of changing early on yesterday.
Hamilton dominated qualifying for the German Grand Prix before throwing pole position away with an uncharacteristic mistake — a locked wheel right at the death. Rosberg was the grateful recipient.
‘When you’re p ***** off about your own performance, you’re unhappy,’ said Hamilton.
‘I brought it to qualifying, I was easily quickest at the end and I didn’t deliver so that’s something I have to deal with.
‘You know when you kick yourself a little bit? That’s where I am but tomorrow I can make a difference and I will,’ he vowed.
Rosberg was forced to abort his first lap of their shoot-out due to an electronic error which cut his engine power.
It handed Hamilton provisional pole before Mercedes confirmed that Rosberg was fine to continue and he beat the reigning champion’s effort by just over a tenth of a second.
Gauntlet thrown down, the Briton made his final bid with less than a minute remaining.
There were knowing looks all around the paddock as he went quicker in the first sector. But he lost that advantage in the second when the error came.
He still narrowly improved his time but it was not enough to pip Rosberg, who took the 27th pole of his career and easily the most impressive.
He was carrying more fuel than Hamilton, his team giving him enough for two hot laps should he make a mistake. But Rosberg did not falter.
‘One of the better ones for sure
under the circumstances,’ he said. ‘Very satisfying. I had more time in the bag.’
Michael Schumacher’s son, Mick, was watching from the Ferrari garage yesterday.
Today, Rosberg has the chance to do what the seven-time world champion could not by winning consecutive races on home soil.
With his back against the wall, it is a chance Rosberg must surely take. He passed up a similar one in Budapest last week when Hamilton breezed past him at the first corner, but says that will not be as easy at Hockenheim.
‘It’s a short run to turn one and the asphalt is old so second place is at a bigger disadvantage,’ he explained.
‘So some things are in my favour. It’s important to win the race tomorrow and I’m feeling good.’
‘It’s a much easier track to overtake here,’ retorted Hamilton. ‘One of the easiest ones.’
They were comfortably clear of Red Bull and Ferrari, for whom Sebastian Vettel is growing increasingly frustrated.
‘We’re not here to finish fifth and sixth,’ blasted the four-time world champion after qualifying in the latter spot. ‘We’re here to challenge for pole on Saturday and win on Sunday.’