Nico Rosberg admits his qualifying efforts for the Italian Grand Prix were “just not quick enough”, as the Mercedes driver trailed Lewis Hamilton by more than half a second.
Given their team’s dominance through free practice, the battle for pole position was always going to be a two-horse race between the Mercedes rivals. But while Rosberg entered the weekend on the back of three consecutive pole positions, the German was powerless to match his team-mate in Q3 at Monza.
“I think the best explanation is that [Hamilton] did some good laps and that’s it because I had a decent weekend until now and got some good laps in today and it was just not quick enough,” Rosberg said.
[There were] no problems. The problem was that I think [Lewis] had one of his best qualifying in a long time.”
Asked whether he was keen to make up for the DNF he had on his last visit to Monza, Rosberg, who retired with an engine failure 12 months ago, added: “No, that's not in my mind. I am just focussed on Sunday's race.
“It would be awesome for me to get a great result here in Italy because it's a quite special place for me. I feel a little bit Italian myself and it's great to race here.”
Having been raised in Monaco, Rosberg has close Italian friends and is fluent in the language himself.
REPORT: Imperious Hamilton storms to Monza pole
Silbermann says ... Mad about Max, Monza and Massa
Claire Williams on Felipe Massa and 2017 driver plans
Romain Grosjean column: Speed, sponsors and scheduling
Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter
Sergio Perez believes Red Bull Racing will be in a great place despite the departure…
We’re on the eve of another adrenaline-pumping weekend of action in Florida, with Formula 1's…
Lewis Hamilton has put departing Red Bull designer Adrian Newey at the top of his…
Nico Hulkenberg says Sauber CEO Andreas Seidl was the “driving factor” behind his decision to…
Honda says it hopes to continue supporting its protégé Yuki Tsunoda despite its departure from…
The news of Adrian Newey's departure from Red Bull has cast a shadow of uncertainty…