• Korean Grand Prix

A podium was possible without wing failure - Rosberg

Nico Rosberg's front wing failed after he passed © Getty Images

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Nico Rosberg said a podium was possible at the Korean Grand Prix if he had not had his front wing failure while trying to overtake team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

Rosberg was in the process of passing Hamilton for third when his Mercedes' nose collapsed and the front wing slammed against the circuit. Sparks sprayed from the endplates as he made his way back to the pits for a replacement wing before going on to finish seventh.

"I was very aware of the sparks, but I really could not believe it," he said. "Just as I was feeling good and had really good pace in the car, the damn front wing drops and there are sparks everywhere. The car was very quick, I was really comfortable and the podium was guaranteed at one point. It was only for one second because the wing failed, but I was going to go for [Romain] Grosjean [in second] because I had really good pace in the car. It's such a pity."

He said he was aware of the wing failing but continued at pace once his team explained the issue over the radio.

"The team did a really god job with my engineer to quickly tell me what was going on and then all I could do was try to cruise home," he said. "I had to understand how bad it was, because if the wing is under the car then it's massively dangerous and I can completely lose control of the car and crash straight on into the wall without braking. So first I had to judge what the situation was and then when I understood that it wasn't too bad, I could carry some speed back to the garage."

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