Get 40% Off
🤯 This Tech Portfolio is up 29% YTD! Join Now to Get April’s Top PicksGet The Picks – Just 99 USD

Rosberg is third time lucky in Monaco

Published 05/24/2015, 02:30 PM
Updated 05/24/2015, 02:53 PM
© Reuters. Mercedes Formula One driver Rosberg of Germany takes a curve during the Monaco F1 Grand Prix

© Reuters. Mercedes Formula One driver Rosberg of Germany takes a curve during the Monaco F1 Grand Prix

By Alan Baldwin

MONACO (Reuters) - Nico Rosberg thanked his lucky stars on Sunday after a third successive Monaco Grand Prix victory fell into his lap just when it seemed Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton had hit the jackpot.

"I'm aware I got lucky, very lucky, probably the luckiest I've ever been in my career, but I'll take it and enjoy it," said the German.

"I know how horrible a day it is for him after such a strong weekend, and to lose it right at the end, like that, that sucks."

Rosberg had been outqualified on Saturday, with Hamilton seizing pole on a metal-fenced circuit where overtaking is famously difficult, and had seemed destined to a hot and thirsty afternoon playing follow-the-leader.

That was how it panned out for the first 64 laps until Dutch 17-year-old Max Verstappen crashed and brought out the safety car.

With Rosberg second, and Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel a close third, the world champion pitted for fresh tyres and came out stunned to find the others had kept going.

The victory had gone and he was third, with his championship lead over Rosberg halved to 10 points.

"Lewis did a great job, he deserved to win. I'm very well aware of that, and I also feel for him. It's a horrible way to lose a race," said Rosberg after celebrating his second win in a row this season.

"On the other side a win is a win, and in sport luck plays a big factor in all these things, it plays a role, so I've learned to just take it.

"I'm very happy because winning Monaco is winning Monaco. It's just awesome," added the man who grew up in the principality and knows every kerb and corner.

Rosberg won the last two Monaco Grands Prix from pole and Sunday was the first time since 2008, when Hamilton triumphed after qualifying third, that the winner had not started with track advantage.

He said he was as surprised as anyone when Hamilton disappeared into the pits.

"It was a big surprise and I thought ‘where the hell did he go?' Then all of a sudden I saw wheel-banging (in the mirrors)...behind me between a Mercedes and a Ferrari, and I thought ‘What the hell is going on there?'

© Reuters. Mercedes Formula One driver Rosberg of Germany takes a curve during the Monaco F1 Grand Prix

"Even at that time I still thought Lewis would win because he was on fresh super-softs and we were on stone-cold hard tyres," added the German.

Latest comments

Risk Disclosure: Trading in financial instruments and/or cryptocurrencies involves high risks including the risk of losing some, or all, of your investment amount, and may not be suitable for all investors. Prices of cryptocurrencies are extremely volatile and may be affected by external factors such as financial, regulatory or political events. Trading on margin increases the financial risks.
Before deciding to trade in financial instrument or cryptocurrencies you should be fully informed of the risks and costs associated with trading the financial markets, carefully consider your investment objectives, level of experience, and risk appetite, and seek professional advice where needed.
Fusion Media would like to remind you that the data contained in this website is not necessarily real-time nor accurate. The data and prices on the website are not necessarily provided by any market or exchange, but may be provided by market makers, and so prices may not be accurate and may differ from the actual price at any given market, meaning prices are indicative and not appropriate for trading purposes. Fusion Media and any provider of the data contained in this website will not accept liability for any loss or damage as a result of your trading, or your reliance on the information contained within this website.
It is prohibited to use, store, reproduce, display, modify, transmit or distribute the data contained in this website without the explicit prior written permission of Fusion Media and/or the data provider. All intellectual property rights are reserved by the providers and/or the exchange providing the data contained in this website.
Fusion Media may be compensated by the advertisers that appear on the website, based on your interaction with the advertisements or advertisers.
© 2007-2024 - Fusion Media Limited. All Rights Reserved.