“It really shows that not only do we have the best auto but we also have the most competent group of engineers to extract the potential from the best vehicle”, Rosberg told reporters after the Singapore Grand Prix.
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Brake problems early in the race enabled Ferrari’s Kimi Raikkonen to get past into third place as Hamilton locked up under pressure. “But we must give credit to race control because they restarted the race pretty quickly and this is what we have asked them, not to spend endless time behind he safety auto”.
“Of course Daniel tried to pull one on me at the end but we managed to hold him off – I’m really, really happy”, he said.
The Finn made a move on Hamilton on lap-34 when the latter locked up his tyres and ran wide just a lap before the duo made their second pit stops. Since then it’s been all Rosberg, with three wins in the past four races as he’s displayed a coolness of temperament on and off track.
After Sunday’s race, Rosberg has topped this season’s driver standings with 273 points, and Hamilton followed with 265 points.
Rosberg’s win puts him eight points in front of Hamilton, and Hamilton’s apparent inability to perform this weekend does perhaps auger a change in pack dominance at Mercedes.
Hamilton arrived in Singapore a year ago with a 53-point lead over Rosberg as he cruised to his third Formula One title and although the tables have somewhat turned this campaign, the Briton knows there are still six rounds remaining.
“We’ve come close on numerous occasions, [and today] we gave it a good shot and got within half a second”.
Vettel was awarded the “driver of the day” trophy after starting last on the grid and finishing fifth on one of the most hard overtaking tracks on the calendar.
“It’s a lot different to when I was here past year”, said Hamilton, who emerged from the 2015 Singapore race with a 41-point lead over Rosberg despite retiring. Now I am going to celebrate after this, can’t wait to get home and next stop is Malaysia where I will try to (win) because I am feeling good at the moment.
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Sebastian Vettel recovered from having to start at the back of the grid due to a suspension failure in qualifying, came home in fifth place with Max Verstappen a long way behind the Red Bull driver in sixth. “It was their only chance actually of making it, but you are right, we took Lewis out of the game and Raikkonen out of the game and gave them the possibility”.
