It was Rosberg’s third pole at Hockenheim, his fifth of the season and the 27th of his career. PHOTO: AFP
The 31-year-old German driver, inspired by racing on home soil and in front of his team’s home crowd, looked to be set for second place on the grid after electrical problems forced him to abort his first flying lap in the third qualifying session.
But he responded with a bold and dramatic lap in the final minutes of a tense session to secure the prime starting slot and a chance to regain the leadership of the drivers’ championship.
German Grand Prix: Rosberg roars in Hockenheim practice
Rosberg clocked a startling best lap of one minute and 14.323 seconds to outpace the defending three-time champion by 0.123 seconds.
“Yes it was a great feeling,” said Rosberg. “It was a great lap, but I also had extra fuel just in case I needed to go again and do a third lap.”
When Hamilton went for his final lap, he was unable to improve and regain the initiative and Rosberg could celebrate, while a disappointed Hamilton struggled to hide his feelings.
Home advantage: Regaining championship lead drives on Rosberg
It was Rosberg’s third pole at Hockenheim, 30 years after his father Keke had claimed his final pole at the famous old circuit in 1986, his fifth of the season and the 27th of his career.
Behind the two Mercedes Australian Daniel Ricciardo, in his 100th Grand Prix, was third fastest for Red Bull ahead of his teammate Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, the pair slightly more than three-tenths behind.
The two Ferraris of German Sebastian Vettel and Finn Kimi Raikkonen were fifth and sixth.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 31st, 2016.
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