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Row over Rosberg’s pole
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GERMANY’S Nico Rosberg took a controversial pole position at the Monaco Grand Prix yesterday after an incident that denied unhappy Mercedes teammate and championship leader Lewis Hamilton the chance to beat him.
Formula One stewards opened an immediate investigation after Rosberg, who had earlier set the pace, locked-up a front tire on the way down to Mirabeau and went down the escape road in the dying seconds to avoid hitting the tire wall. The mistake brought out the yellow warning flags at a crucial moment in qualifying.
Hamilton, winner of the last four races, was faster through the first sector but settled for second place on the starting grid after aborting his last lap.
“I thought it was over,” a smiling Rosberg, last year’s winner and Hamilton’s closest title rival, said. “I’m happy it worked out. Pole at home is fantastic — it couldn’t be better.
“Of course I’m sorry for what happened to Lewis. I didn’t know where exactly he was,” he added.
Hamilton said, a forced smile on his face, that it was ‘ironic’ for his rival to secure pole in such a fashion.
Rosberg is three points behind leader Hamilton in the drivers’ standings.
The incident, and stewards’ actions, revived memories of Michael Schumacher’s infamous 2006 pole lap when the seven-time world champion blatantly blocked the Rascasse corner and prevented Renault’s Fernando Alonso from going faster. After hours of deliberation, the German was sent to the back of the grid for an ‘incorrect action’.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo will start third for Red Bull with quadruple world champion teammate Sebastian Vettel alongside on the second row.
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