• Korean Grand Prix

Mixed fortunes for Mercedes drivers

Nico Rosberg was taken out by Mark Webber © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• Report:
• Alonso wins dramatic race to take title lead
  

• Race:
• Korean Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Nico Rosberg

• Teams:
• Mercedes

Mercedes drivers Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg suffered mixed fortunes in the Korean Grand Prix.

Both drivers made good ground when racing proper got underway, Rosberg passing Lewis Hamilton and Schumacher finding his way past Robert Kubica.

Rosberg found himself running a strong third when Mark Webber's Red Bull caught the kerb on the exit to turn 12 and snapped right into the barrier before sliding back across the track and collecting his Mercedes.

"We had a near perfect weekend with the car that we have until the collision in the race today," said Rosberg. "Qualifying in fifth place was great yesterday and the car has felt good all weekend. The team has done a great job here and the straightline speed that we had enabled me to overtake Hamilton early in the race.

"So it's a big shame that my race was ended early. It was really difficult to judge which way Mark's car would go and I took the decision to go left but he spun more and more that way and I just couldn't avoid him. It's a real shame as we could have had a great result today."

Schumacher, meanwhile, equalled his best result of the season with a fourth place finish that owed much to the retirements of his team-mate and both Red Bulls.

"I am pretty happy with today's race and I have to say thank you to my team who guided me perfectly through the afternoon. I am sure that the spectators had a lot of fun here today at this first Korean race. The FIA did very well to start the race behind the safety car as it absolutely would not have been possible to have a racing start. The only shame for us today was that Nico was put out of the race otherwise we would have seen a very good weekend for our team."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.