- US GP - Race
Rosberg struggled to find rhythm
Nico Rosberg says his failure to beat Lewis Hamilton at the United States Grand Prix was due to how long it took for him to find a rhythm after starting from pole.
Rosberg got away well off the line and led until the first round of pit stops, but the switch from soft tyres to the medium compound for both Mercedes drivers proved decisive. Hamilton seemed far more comfortable in that middle stint and passed Rosberg on lap 24, with the German confessing his team-mate did a better job on the day.
"Obviously, it kind of sucks for me today," Rosberg said. "Pretty simply I didn't find my rhythm early on - it took a long while. In the overtake I knew there was a chance he could try [to pass when he did]. I tried halfway defensive, but Lewis did a good job and that was it. Five to 10 laps later I started to feel OK, but unfortunately it was then too late."
After the second round of pit stops Rosberg was matching the pace of Hamilton consistently, and chipped away at his lead at times, but never got close to DRS range. Despite taking a while to find his groove Rosberg insists he was racing for the win until the pair crossed the chequered flag.
"That was the period where I started to feel more comfortable. I never gave up, I was fully determined to put pressure onto Lewis all the way and try to get a bit closer, but it just wasn't possible today."
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