Nico Rosberg is rueing a first corner error which cost him a potential victory at the Russian Grand Prix, allowing team-mate Lewis Hamilton to extend his championship lead.
The German managed to slipstream Hamilton and get alongside on the first lap and briefly took the lead before locking-up. He then ran wide and was forced to hand the position back before pitting for fresh tyres.
“I just went completely wrong,” said Rosberg. “It was actually an easy situation. It’s just the first time at this track, first time down there with 160kg [of fuel] in the tank. I just got it wrong completely.
“It was just a mistake on my side. I just braked too late, that was it. Very unnecessary. It was my corner and should have been the lead I had. Very disappointed with that.”
He managed to recover to second to limit the damage.
“After that my tyres were square so I couldn’t see where I was going and had to pit. I thought that was the end of the day but then partly I’m happy to have managed to get back all the way to second.
“In hindsight, I could have pushed more during the race. It’s always easy to know more afterwards. In the end my tyres were fine. It is a pity but difficult to know that during the race.”
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