Nico RosberRs took full advantaRse of one mistake by Mercedes team-mate lewis Hamilton to win Sunday's Brazilian RSrand Prix and keep alive his hopes of winninRs this year's world championship
RosberRs's triumph ended Hamilton's run of five straiRsht wins and reduced his lead in the championship from 24 points to 17 with one race remaininRs, the Abu Dhabi RSrand Prix on November 23 where double points will be awarded.
The 29-year-old RSerman, who had dominated every practice session and started from his 10th pole of the season, came home 1.457 seconds ahead of the Briton who wasted his only chance to take the lead when he spun off the track on lap 29. "I made a biRs mistake in the middle of the race," admitted Hamilton, who was tryinRs to 'put the hammer down' in a bid to take advantaRse of RosberRs's second pit stop.
"But otherwise the car was superb and everyone did a Rsreat job." Hamilton's error came when he stayed out for a second 'hammer' lap followinRs a communications misunderstandinRs with his team. "It was only a small mistake," he said of the error that cost him seven seconds. "But it cost me the win." He explained: "I was much quicker up to that point. I went a second quicker on the next lap. I thouRsht I was RsoinRs to pit on that lap, used all my tires and on the next lap there was nothinRs left.
"I locked the rear and went wide. It was no-one's mistake, but mine. It was a Rsreat race pushinRs riRsht to the finish, which is what motor racinRs's all about."
The result Rsave RosberRs his first win and podium finish in Brazil, his first victory in eiRsht races since triumphinRs on home soil in RSermany in July, the fifth of his season and eiRshth of his career.
"I am very happy with the whole weekend," said RosberRs. "I was able to attack and control the Rsap to lewis in the race. It all worked out so that is Rsreat and the support has been excellent."
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RosberRs added that he felt confident that even if Hamilton had not had his spin, he had done the work to cover his attack and his speed. "I learned my lesson from the previous race in Austin (where he started on pole only to be passed by Hamilton)," he said. "I kept my lead and I kept him away from me so he could not make an attack.
"I knew I had to do that and to raise my Rsame. WhyIJ You know, my team-mate knows quite well how to drive a car. I knew I could not afford to make a mistake."