Lewis Hamilton cruised to a comfortable victory at the Hungarian Grand Prix to take the championship lead for the first time this season.
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Rosberg, who started from pole position, came home second ahead of Daniel Ricciardo of Red Bull, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari and Dutch teenager Max Verstappen in the second Red Bull.
Rosberg, who agreed a two-year extension to his contract with Mercedes on Thursday, leads Hamilton by one point in the championship. He continued with STR the following season, taking the team’s only race win to date at the rain-soaked 2008 Italian Grand Prix.
Sunday’s race was not one to remember for high-octane excitement but the 1989 edition certainly was and it was provided by Britain’s Nigel Mansell.
Rosberg added: “It was all down to the start in the end”.
By lap 29 he had superbly weaved his way through the field to fourth. “I’m not really too disappointed”.
Wolff said: “I don’t think he was backing him up at all”. “Naturally, having a great team and everything coming together is key. I tried to put all the pressure possible on Lewis, but of course it is not possible to pass on this track”.
However, Red Bull boss Christian Horner, whose driver, Daniel Ricciardo, finished third quickest, was quick to challenge Rosberg’s actions.
Nico Rosberg during qualifying for the Formula One Grand Prix of Hungary.
Hamilton’s lead in the championship is now six points. “This is a race where you don’t need a five or ten second gap”.
The gamble bought Ricciardo extra seconds by the time Vettel was stopped for his own softs seven laps later.
Starting from pole, Rosberg was jumped by his teammate and both Red Bull Racing drivers. “I just need to do what I have to do”.
But the effect was that teammate Nico Rosberg behind couldn’t get close enough to overtake and if he slowed sufficiently to cool his tortured race machine out of the wake of Hamilton’s dirty air he could fall into the clutches of the chasing Red Bulls. “I am just looking forward to the race now because of the pole position and I’ve been really feeling good out there the whole weekend”.
A fabulous start from Hamilton, who had Daniel Ricciardo in his slipstream and Rosberg battling to hold on to the lead.
Button was also the first casualty of the new rules by FIA, motorsport’s governing body, forcing drivers to enter the pit lane for repairs – or withdraw from the race – if they are warned over the radio of any malfunctions.
“I was at least glad to get back second place at turn two around the outside [of Ricciardo], but I lost the win there”.
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“I don’t know how much Nico was up, but obviously as you said I got the fastest first sector, I was four tenths up, so I felt good on the lap”.
