SHANGHAI // Mercedes-GP rivals Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg resumed hostilities in China yesterday after Hamilton snatched pole position by the smallest of margins, much to German driver Rosberg’s chagrin.
Hamilton, the Formula One world champion, edged out Rosberg by just four hundredths of a second in Shanghai. The German bristled when reminded he had out-qualified Hamilton in 2014, saying there was no cause for alarm.
“I think last year he was also three or four up on me in qualifying and I pulled it back afterwards,” Rosberg said after watching Hamilton take pole for the third time in three races this season.
“I just missed out by four hundredths,” he added. “And who cares anyways. It’s points that count.”
Rosberg’s frustration was evident, however, and he rather truculently refused to shake Hamilton’s hand after climbing out of his car, while pointedly offering congratulations to countryman Sebastian Vettel, who took third for Ferrari.
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Still seething, Rosberg said it stung not to put a dent in Hamilton’s armour after coming so close.
“Yes, it is a particularly pleasurable experience,” he said slowly with a wry smile, referring to the feeling of putting one over on the Briton.
Hamilton, in contrast, took a thinly veiled dig at Rosberg as the feud, which boiled over last year when Rosberg drove into him in Belgium, threatened to erupt again.
“I don’t actually mind him having more (poles),” he said. “He can have the trophy for most poles. As long as I have the trophy for winning – that’s all that matters. Ultimately, qualifying is not the end of the world.”
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff, who has taken the bickering rivals to task after their public spat, reiterated that the team preferred not to adopt split strategies and to let the two drivers compete on a level playing field.
But he said that after Vettel’s surprise victory in Malaysia two weeks ago, Mercedes could be forced into a rethink to combat the Ferrari threat.
“It could trigger different behaviour from us,” Wolff said. “What we always tried to do last year was to play it fair and square, stay as neutral as possible, so we don’t argue at the end of the race.”
That prompted a sharp intake of breath from Rosberg.
“Definitely I don’t like that,” he said. “Because it’s an artificial addition to our fight. It’s not a fair fight for one or the other. But we’re racing for Mercedes and in the first instance we need to win for Mercedes.”
“I haven’t got any worries just yet,” Hamilton said.
“Ultimately the car in front gets the best strategy, so I’ve put myself in the best position for that.”
Elsewhere, Will Stevens said he knew he faced a steep learning curve after finally qualifying for his first grand prix with Manor this season.
Stevens was forced to sit out the sessions in Australia and Malaysia due to mechanical issues, but after a trouble-free qualifying he will line up on the grid in China in 19th, ahead of teammate Roberto Merhi.
Though Stevens competed for Caterham in their final race prior to their demise in Abu Dhabi last season, the Briton, 23, faces a tough task at the Shanghai International Circuit.
“It was nice to finally get out there, do a quali run and show what we can do,” Stevens said.
“As far as the day went we had no issues, everything went to plan and overall I was happy with the lap I did. It was pretty solid.
“For the race, I’ve not done a long run in this car, so for me it’s going to be a test session.
“I need to work out what’s happening with the car and how it’s going to react on the option (soft) tyre, especially as I haven’t done a run on that.
“Where I feel most confident in myself is in tyre management, so come the race we should be fine.
“Priority No 1 will be to get to the finish, but clearly I want to continue the form I’ve been in this weekend and carry that on into the race.
“I believe I can do a good job, but I know I’ll need to learn quickly as the race unfolds.”
STARTING GRID FOR THE CHINESE GRAND PRIX
1st row
Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes)
Nico Rosberg (GER/Mercedes)
2nd row
Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari)
Felipe Massa (BRA/Williams-Mercedes)
3rd row
Valtteri Bottas (FIN/Williams-Mercedes)
Kimi Raikkonen (FIN/Ferrari)
4th row
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull-Renault)
Romain Grosjean (FRA/Lotus-Mercedes)
5th row
Felipe Nasr (BRA/Sauber-Ferrari)
Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber-Ferrari)
6th row
Pastor Maldonado (VEN/Lotus-Mercedes)
Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Red Bull-Renault)
7th row
Max Verstappen (NED/Toro Rosso-Renault)
Carlos Sainz Jr (ESP/Toro Rosso-Renault)
8th row
Sergio Perez (MEX/Force India-Mercedes)
Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Force India-Mercedes)
9th row
Jenson Button (GBR/McLaren-Honda)
Fernando Alonso (ESP/McLaren-Honda)
10th row
Will Stevens (GBR/Marussia-Ferrari)
Roberto Merhi (ESP/Marussia-Ferrari)
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