Mercedes boss Toto Wolff says that Nico Rosberg proved to be a great team player when he gave up second place to Lewis Hamilton on lap 16 of the Monaco GP.
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Both drivers were the last of the leading pack to change their wet tires for intermediates and while Red Bull pulled its driver into the pits to change, Mercedes left Hamilton out on the track to try and build a lead.
“It’s such a special number for me and my family”, said Hamilton, who thanked his mechanics.
“I didn’t expect the points to shift in the way they have”, said Hamilton. “The others are also fumbling and making mistakes, but the team that makes the least is going to be the one that wins”, the Briton added.
“I didn’t know if I could win the race today but knowing that it was going to rain definitely opened up the window of opportunity”.
While Hamilton and Rosberg’s rivalry has been on everybody’s lips since the start of the season, this race developed into a fascinating battle between the Brit and Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo. “The delay at his pit stop cost him the lead and despite some excellent driving to get close to Lewis, he couldn’t get past”.
The Australian driver was bitter in defeat and Horner will worry that one of the best talents in F1 will be so frustrated that he will be tempted by a move to Ferrari.
Rosberg is now negotiating an extension of his Mercedes contract beyond the end of this year – with the sticking point rumoured to be whether the deal is just a for one year or several years – but he said it had not played on his mind when he moved aside. So he took only six points from the race to Hamilton’s 25.
“But I have no idea what to say – and nothing good to say. We are the greatest team, but we need to refine a few areas”.
“I will sleep easier tonight knowing I set out what I tried to do, getting my first pole”, Ricciardo said.
Victor of seven of the past eight races, including the first four this season, Rosberg’s very bad day was compounded when he was overtaken at the line by Nico Hulkenberg.
“It wasn’t the case since Barcelona, but I was ready to have a down and navigate through it and come out the other side”.
The 31-year-old admitted “it was the hardest race I can remember having to do” and explained how he pushed for his first stint to be extended in order to go straight onto slicks.
“I am sitting here and everything is quiet, and a bit boring, not particularly exciting, but when I leave here it is going to be super exciting”.
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It still could, but Sunday will be a tougher challenge with Rosberg starting second on a track where overtaking is always a challenge.
