Nico Rosberg subordinated himself to the stable order. Photo: Srdjan Suki
(Photo: dpa)
Rosberg’s lead was reduced to 24 points The fact that he earned the title of team player on a day “when everything was a disaster” will be of little use to him in the bitter duel with his teammate Lewis Hamilton. Because the defending champion and three-time champion demonstrated on the track at the right time to the resurgent Red Bulls and also to Rosberg: I’m back.
When his German opponent in the shared employer’s motorhome objectively and analytically explained to the international press representatives his seventh place and the correctness of the stable order to his disadvantage, Hamilton was only two meters away. Unusual. Usually one comes after the other is done. Not this time.
Hamilton, wearing his self-designed purple baseball cap, was already wearing a civilian denim jacket with a symbol on the back. He took a sip of water and typed on his phone while Rosberg stressed that despite the disappointment with his own placement, he could be partly happy for the team because Mercedes won the race.
Could he also be happy for Hamilton? “I guess I respect him a lot, he deserved to win today, that’s it.” Rosberg could probably have done without Hamilton’s encouraging slap on the shoulder when handing over the microphone. “Nico Rosberg was admirably stoic and honest in his defeat. But in truth he was as desolate as Hamilton was brilliant,” wrote the British Telegraph.
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The lead from Rosberg (106) to Hamilton (82) melted to 24 points. But that was only one side of the victory at the classic in Monte Carlo. Only three times in the past ten years has a driver managed to win from a place other than pole – a year ago it was Rosberg because Mercedes robbed Hamilton of victory through wrong tactics, in 2008 and 2016 it was Hamilton.
He benefited from Daniel Ricciardo’s bad luck, for whom the right tires were not available in the Red Bull garage when he pitted. Otherwise, at least the classic showed with its own laws: Red Bull has come close and is competing with Ferrari for the role of pursuer with Sebastian Vettel.
The four-time world champion from Heppenheim was still annoyed with himself that he hadn’t managed to overtake Felipe Massa in the Williams and ultimately only finished fourth. “Even if it’s impossible, I just have to make it possible,” he said. But I won’t jump off a bridge, he said with a smile. “There is no need to panic.” But Vettel knows that Mercedes is still a long way off.
But there was also a burden lifted from some. “It’s a great relief that we managed to win with him after this bad streak of bad luck,” emphasized team boss Toto Wolff. The past few weeks, in which Hamilton was slowed down by a defective hybrid system in qualifying in China and Russia, among other things, would have strengthened the British – and their relationship too, said Wolff. “We had a lot of discussions and difficult moments. We needed that win, he needed that win.”
This 44th in his career. “This is such a special number for me and my family, I can’t believe I’ve now managed 44 wins in Formula 1,” said Hamilton. “I want to enjoy this now because this only happens once.” Seven Grand Prix
Hamilton is still missing successes, then he draws level with the four-time world champion Alain Prost. And now comes Canada. Hamilton has won there four times. And Rosberg never.
