Nico Rosberg wins Monaco Grand Prix with Lewis Hamilton hurt by Mercedes error
Team mistakenly call the British driver in for an unnecessary pit stop as he finishes third; Sebastian Vettal is second
Nico Rosberg took full advantage of one of Formula One’s greatest tactical errors on Sunday to land an unexpected victory and become only the fourth man to claim a hat-trick of consecutive wins in the Monaco Grand Prix.
The 29-year-old German – who was winning his second successive race this season – came home in his Mercedes ahead of compatriot Sebastian Vettel in a Ferrari with long-time leader and Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton third.
Rosberg, who reduced the gap between himself and Hamilton in the world championship standings to 10 points after six races, trailed his teammate for 63 laps until an accident prompted a safety car intervention that, in turn, led the team to call the Briton in for an unexpected and unnecessary pit stop.
I've lost the race, haven’t I? What’s happened, guys?
Obeying his team, Hamilton, who led by 21 seconds before he pitted, came out in third place and, after the race was restarted with eight laps remaining, found it impossible to pass Sebastian Vettel’s Ferrari, let alone Rosberg, in a failed attempt to claim his fourth victory of the year.
“I’ve lost the race, haven’t I?” asked Hamilton on seeing his reversal of fortunes after exiting the pit lane. “What’s happened, guys?”
Hamilton’s team were swift to apologise for the misjudgment, but their actions had deprived him, and the spectators, of a fair sporting outcome after he had dominated the 62nd running of this classic 78-lap contest.
“I am very happy,” said Rosberg, who was also claiming two consecutive grands prix for the first time. “But I know it was just a lot of luck. Lewis drove brilliantly and would have deserved the win, for sure, but that’s the way it is in racing.