Nico Rosberg wins Monaco Grand Prix after Mercedes 'mistake'
/dnl.eurosport.com/sd/img/placeholder/eurosport_logo_1x1.png){kind=logo}
ByEurosport
Updated 24/05/2015 at 18:25 GMT
Germany's Nico Rosberg celebrated a surprise hat-trick of Monaco Grand Prix victories on Sunday after Mercedes blew championship-leading team mate Lewis Hamilton's chances with a needless pitstop.
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's German driver Nico Rosberg waves as he celebrates after winning the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix
Image credit: AFP
Hamilton had controlled the race up until Max Verstappen crashed during lap 64 but relinquished his advantage when Mercedes pitted him while the safety car was out.
It followed a spectacular and nasty-looking crash into the barriers from the rookie Dutchman, who clipped Romain Grosjean when he attempted an overtake, and lost all control over his car which crumpled on impact.
Hamilton emerged from the pits behind both team-mate Rosberg and Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel and that was how it finished.
The defending champion observed to his team immediately, "I've just lost the race, haven't I?"
Afterwards, with the enormity of what had happened still sinking in, the stunned Mercedes driver told reporters: "I can't really explain the way I feel at the moment. I won't even attempt to.
"To be honest it happened so fast I don't remember. You rely on your team."
The race had been relatively uneventful up to that point, with the narrow Monaco track offering little in terms of overtaking, but the safety car and its aftermath created some drama.
Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo used the final ten laps to push Hamilton and Vettel, looking to snatch a podium place, but eventually capitulated, handing the fourth place finish back to his team-mate Dany Kvyat.
McLaren's Fernando Alonso ended up retiring from the race after a problem with his car's temperature, but his colleague Jenson Button picked up the team's first points of the season, finishing in eighth.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/05/24/1574017-33477715-2560-1440.jpg)
Mercedes AMG Petronas F1 Team's British driver Lewis Hamilton reacts after taking third place on the podium after the Monaco Formula One Grand Prix
Image credit: AFP
Hamilton said he initially thought the cars behind him had pitted, so he assumed he was called in to cover off the fact his pursuers would be on fresher tyres when the race resumed after the safety car.
"I saw a screen and it looked like the team was out [in the pits]," he added. "It looked like Nico had pitted.
/origin-imgresizer.eurosport.com/2015/05/24/1573950-33476375-2560-1440.jpg)
Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari), Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - GP of Monaco 2015
Image credit: AFP
"I thought the guys behind were pitting, so when the team said stay out, I said the tyres were dropping temperature, and I was assuming that these guys would be on options and I would be on the harder tyre, so they said to pit.
"I did that and came in thinking with full confidence the others had done the same."
Hamilton said the lost victory was particularly painful because of how special the Monaco Grand Prix is to him.
"This race has been close to my heart for many years," he added.
"It was a great feeling in the race, I had so much pace. I didn't have to push too much.
"I could have doubled the lead if I needed. I'm grateful for that pace and I'll come back to fight another day - at the moment I can't think of anything else."
Scan me
Related Topics
Share this article