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Rosberg on pole, Hamilton hits wall
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN: Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for the European Grand Prix after his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton crashed
BAKU, AZERBAIJAN: Formula One championship leader Nico Rosberg claimed pole position for the European Grand Prix after his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton crashed out of qualifying in an error-strewn performance on Saturday.
Qualifying was red-flagged when Hamilton clipped his right front wheel on a wall near the Baku fortress in the twisty old-town section of the street circuit. The reigning world champion qualified 10th. Force India’s Sergio Perez was second but will take a five-place grid penalty for changing his gearbox after also hitting a wall at the end of prequalifying practice and severely damaging the rear of the car.
Rosberg’s pole and Hamilton’s mistake again flipped the momentum in the title fight between the Mercedes drivers. Hamilton had won the past two races to slice the German’s points lead from 43 points to nine, but Rosberg now has a golden opportunity to re-establish a buffer.
But Rosberg wasn’t getting over-confident, saying, “Lewis has shown very often from 10th place he can come back very strongly.”
‘SHUT UP OR GO HOME’
Formula One supremo Bernie Ecclestone vented his frustrations on Saturday when he said that drivers who grumble about safety on the new Baku street circuit should get on with it or go home. The 85-year-old Briton, under fire for running the race in a country with a damning human rights record, said he agreed with Hamilton, who said everyone should stop moaning about the inaugural race in Azerbaijan.
Eccles tone said ,“... It is a bit of a ‘ballsy’ circuit and if you don’t like it...Well, one of them, I think it was Nico, was complaining about the speed into the pit-lane. I said to the people, go and have a look... see if he has a brake on the car because it is up to him how quick he is.”
