- Australian GP
Rosberg: Hamilton drove like a champion
Nico Rosberg praised Lewis Hamilton for his drive to victory in Australia and said he unsuccessfully mounted a full-scale attack in the closing stages.
Hamilton led Rosberg away off the line and controlled the race throughout, though Rosberg occasionally dipped to within 1.5s of the world champion. But he never got close to the other Mercedes and Rosberg admitted after the race Hamilton just did a better job on the day.
"It's a nice feeling to be second today because it's a awesome start to the season for us as a team, absolutely stunning car they've given us, unbelievable," Rosberg said. "Lewis has just done a fantastic job this weekend, he drove like a world champion the whole weekend. I couldn't quite beat him but for sure I was trying every single lap all the way to the maximum and I will do all year. I'll give him a big run for his money and hopefully beat him."
Rosberg was advised to save fuel at mid-distance in order to have something in reserve for a late charge. Though he put in a few quick laps he did not significantly cut the gap, and did not save more fuel than Hamilton, but he said the late charge was just unsuccessful.
"No, the attack was most definitely there! Maybe you didn't see it but it was for sure inside the cockpit. Lewis just made no mistakes so it was not possible to get closer than that or even let alone try to overtake. It was just a matter of saving a little bit of fuel in the middle of the race to then be able to go full on at the end of the race but I think Lewis did a very similar thing, as soon as I started to save a little bit he saved as well so he was able to push. It didn't really help me unfortunately."
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