“I’ve been outqualified plenty of times before. It doesn’t make me doubt
my abilities. It just makes me want to work harder.”
Sitting next to him, Rosberg was not about to lapse in his role as the
consummate diplomat, admitting: “To beat Lewis anywhere you have to be
perfect. I like that challenge, and of course I’m happy when I’m the one out
in front.”
The 27-year-old’s pace was in stark evidence as he grasped the fourth pole of
his career with a superbly-executed lap of one minute 13.876 seconds, taking
top spot by under one tenth from Hamilton.
Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber annexed the second row for Red Bull while
Kimi Raikkonen, Vettel’s closest pursuer in the championship race, took
fifth.
At last, the opportunity has come this season for Mercedes to convert their
much-heralded qualifying speed into a victory, with the sinuous Monaco
circuit almost certain to limit any dramatic overtaking manoeuvres.
The team also expressed confidence this weekend that they have overcome the
problem of the rapid degradation of their rear tyres, which caused an
exasperated Hamilton to fall from second on the grid in Barcelona to 12th in
the race.
Rosberg was understandably wary when pressed on his prospects this afternoon,
having come ninth and sixth the last two occasions he sat on pole.
Reminded of the 30-year anniversary of his father’s win, he said: “That’s
nice, but it doesn’t change much. In Spain we struggled a lot and I finished
70 seconds behind the winner.
“We are improving step by step, but there are still many question marks
that remain. The tyres are our weakness, but we can always create a few
surprises.”
For Mercedes it was somehow appropriate, on a day when two German clubs were
contesting the Champions League final, that the country’s emblematic marque
in motorsport should have asserted its dominance.
But it is the developing duel between the two drivers that will be most
fascinating to observe on Sunday. Rosberg and Hamilton have fought each
other on the track since they were 13 and still in karts, and even live in
the same Monaco apartment block off Avenue Princesse Grace.
Hamilton adores the uniquely arduous demands that Monte Carlo makes of a
driver’s mind. Both he and Rosberg, who recovered from a rain-hit start to
qualifying in which he ran off the track at Mirabeau, displayed a
superlative understanding of grip in the capricious conditions.
Their feel for the most celebrated stretch of tarmac in Formula
One is unsurpassed, with Hamilton identifying the entry to Casino
Square as the most exhilarating section.
“Lap after lap you get deeper and deeper into the corner,” he
explained. “It’s awesome. I can’t speak highly enough of this track. I
live for taking the car to the maximum. These qualifying laps in Monaco are
what I live and breathe for.”
Invoking his idol Ayrton Senna, who holds the record of six victories here,
Hamilton said: “When I go through the tunnel I always think of Senna.
That’s what excited me when I was young, seeing him drive through there.
“I thought then about how amazing it would be to do the same one day. I
am so fortunate to be able to be among the few racers who compete here. It
is a privilege.”
Final Positions after Qualifying:
1 Nico Rosberg (Ger) Mercedes GP 1min 13.876secs
2 Lewis Hamilton (Gbr) Mercedes GP 1:13.967
3 Sebastian Vettel (Ger) Red Bull 1:13.980
4 Mark Webber (Aus) Red Bull 1:14.181
5 Kimi Raikkonen (Fin) Lotus F1 Team 1:14.822
6 Fernando Alonso (Spa) Ferrari 1:14.824
7 Sergio Perez (Mex) McLaren 1:15.138
8 Adrian Sutil (Ger) Force India 1:15.383
9 Jenson Button (Gbr) McLaren 1:15.647
10 Jean-Eric Vergne (Fra) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:15.703
11 Nico Hulkenberg (Ger) Sauber-Ferrari 1:18.331
12 Daniel Ricciardo (Aus) Scuderia Toro Rosso 1:18.344
13 Romain Grosjean (Fra) Lotus F1 Team 1:18.603
14 Valtteri Bottas (Fin) Williams 1:19.077
15 Giedo van der Garde (Ned) Caterham 1:19.408
16 Pastor Maldonado (Ven) Williams 1:21.688
17 Paul di Resta (Gbr) Force India 1:26.322
18 Charles Pic (Fra) Caterham 1:26.633
19 Esteban Gutierrez (Mex) Sauber-Ferrari 1:26.917
20 Max Chilton (Gbr) Marussia 1:27.303
21 Jules Bianchi (Fra) Marussia No Time
22 Felipe Massa (Bra) Ferrari No Time