• Belgian Grand Prix - Qualifying

Rosberg bemoans poor timing in qualifying

Nico Rosberg qualified fourth having missed the best of the conditions in Q3 © Getty Images

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Nico Rosberg said the timing of his final qualifying lap prevented him having a shot at pole position for the Belgian Grand Prix.

On a drying track, Rosberg took provisional pole position with his final lap but he was eventually beaten one-by-one by Mark Webber, Sebastian Vettel and finally team-mate Lewis Hamilton who had all started their laps later. Rosberg said he definitely lost out by setting his time so early but is still encouraged to be starting on the second row.

"I was feeling really comfortable out there and going strong and just didn't get the timings right in the end," Rosberg said. "I was one of the first to cross the line and then the track was drying very, very quickly so that cost me dearly in terms of positions. Who knows what would have been; I've got no idea.

"Taking everything in to consideration then fourth place is OK and second row of the grid still gives me a great chance for tomorrow because I know that I have a good car in all different conditions. Whatever comes I know that I'm going to be quick so from that point of view I think it's possible for us as a team to have a great day tomorrow."

With Hamilton taking his fourth pole position in a row, Rosberg said he needed to regain a bit of form to challenge his team-mate.

"For one, Lewis has been doing a really good job and he's on it, but it was clear from the beginning that he was going to be a tough competitor. From my side it's just a bit of a phase where not everything is going 100% right. You go through these phases as a driver and come out the other side and then there will be a phase where everything does go right; like at the beginning of the year in qualifying, even though the races didn't go well back then qualifying was going right. I am very confident that the phase will come again and it might even start tomorrow."

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