Nico Rosberg left his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton fuming on Saturday after a high-speed mistake on his final qualifying lap sealed the German’s claim pole position for Sunday’s Monaco Grand Prix.
The 28-year-old Rosberg, who lies three points behind Hamilton in the drivers’ championship, wrecked Hamilton’s prospects of outpacing him as yellow flags slowed the field in the closing period.
Race officials investigated the controversial incident but decided there had been no underhand tactics when Rosberg locked his brakes and went off down the escape road at Mirabeau.
Suspicions were raised that Rosberg had “done a Schumacher”: in 2006 Michael Schumacher was stripped of pole after race stewards decided that he had stopped deliberately after running wide at the Rascasse corner in his Ferrari to block other drivers.
Rosberg, smiling broadly, batted away questions at the post-session news conference.
“Of course, I’m sorry for Lewis — I didn’t know where he was, but, of course yeah it’s not great….”
“I thought it was over. I thought the track would ramp up and someone else could beat my time.
“So, of course, I’m happy it worked out. Pole at home is fantastic.”
A visibly upset Hamilton found it difficult to smile for the photographers or speak to reporters as he reflected on another failed effort to secure his maiden pole position in the principality.
All but one of the past 10 races in Monaco have been won by the driver who held pole position, the exception being Hamilton in 2008.
“Yeah, it’s ironic (Rosberg took pole from his own mistake). It was (going) okay, I was up a couple of tenths,” said Hamilton.
Australian Daniel Ricciardo, who qualified an impressive third for Red Bull ahead of his teammate, four-time champion Sebastian Vettel, summed up the mood.
“I think all three of us don’t seem to be too pleased with ourselves… I think we all feel that we’ve left something on the table. I fought the car all the way round in qualifying.
“In turn eight, I lost it and the lap was pretty much gone after that.”
Fernando Alonso qulified fifth ahead of his Ferrari team-mate Kimi Raikkonen, the 2007 champion, Frenchman Jean-Eric Vergne of Toro Rosso and Danish rookie Kevin Magnussen of McLaren.
Another rookie, Russian Daniil Kvyat in the second Toro Rosso was ninth and Mexican Sergio Perez was 10th for Force India.
Rosberg’s best lap of one minute and 15.989 left him just 0.059 seconds ahead of Hamilton as the two Mercedes men demonstrated they are the class of the field following five straight wins this year.
