“Lewis is an extremely tough rival,” Rosberg acknowledged. “He
was like that in go-karts, where he was massively quick. To be team-mates
with him again brings back memories of how difficult it was to try to edge
him out. It is exactly the same.”
The widespread expectation, given Mercedes’ run of three straight poles, is
that the Silver Arrows’ superlative one-lap pace could propel them to their
maiden triumph this campaign in Monaco, such is the fiendish difficulty of
overtaking on the fabled street layout.
Triple world champion Sebastian Vettel has moved four points clear of Lotus’
Kimi Raikkonen at the head of the drivers’ standings, but Alonso argued on
Wednesday that the recent reality of Red Bull dominance was under threat.
Suggesting Red Bull owner Dietrich Mateschitz’s complaint that F1 was “not
racing any more” displayed little more than competitive resentment, the
Spaniard said: “Sometimes, when you win too easily for some years, it
is difficult to lose races afterwards.”