Nico Rosberg mystified by qualifying deficit to Lewis Hamilton

The defending champion has secured nine pole positions out of the first 10 races, with Rosberg only beating him once on Saturday afternoon at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya. The gap is all the more remarkable considering that the German had the upper hand in that area last year when he claimed 11 poles to Hamilton’s seven.

“I've been working to improve my racing and it may have slightly compromised qualifying a little bit, but most of it is not explainable to me,” said Rosberg.

“I don't understand why there is such a big difference and it is frustrating at the moment, but I am nearly over it. It is not something that pulls me down. It is the way it is and, as long as my racing is good, I can try to turn it around.”

Despite his poor Saturday record, Rosberg remains very much in the title hunt, courtesy of his three wins – Spain, Monaco, Austria – and all-around consistency on race days.

With nine events still to go, the 30-year-old sits 21 points adrift of Hamilton in the Drivers’ standings, less than the amount awarded for a grand prix victory.