Rosberg: 'I can live with second'

Championship leader Nico Rosberg saw his lead over Lewis Hamilton reduced to just 12 points with just one race to go, but labeled himself content with his second place finish.

In a chaotic race marked by rain-hit treacherous conditions and two interruptions, the Mercedes squad kept its cool with Rosberg choosing a rather cautious management of his driving behind his out-of-reach and victorious team mate.

"It didn't go my way today, Lewis just did great job," Rosberg said on the podium.

"It was very difficult conditions out there, but I can live with the second place today."

On the second restart Rosberg conceded P2 to a daring Max Verstappen but the German would later regain the position when his Red Bull rival made the ill-fated choice to pit for intermediate tyres.

With several drivers crashing out or spinning, Rosberg had a big moment of his own, enduring a half-spin on the exit of Turn 13 on the run up the hill, but without dire consequences fortunately.

"With the aquaplaning, you just don't feel the limit of the car. Max did a great job but I'm glad it worked out with the strategy to beat him."

The Mercedes driver was also relieved when Red Bull made the wrong strategy call by pitting both Ricciardo and Verstappen for intermediates.

"I can't afford to take the risks that they take because they are just going for the win. I was confident however that staying out was the right thing for us to do, especially because they had predicted more rain at that point. So I was actually glad that they tried that strategy."

All in all, Rosberg believed the chaotic race had been called correctly by the stewards.

"It was on the limit, but in the end they got it right. They did a good job judging but it was quite a fine line out there.

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Phillip van Osten

Motor racing was a backdrop from the outset in Phillip van Osten's life. Born in Southern California, Phillip grew up with the sights and sounds of fast cars thanks to his father, Dick van Osten, an editor and writer for Auto Speed and Sport and Motor Trend. Phillip's passion for racing grew even more when his family moved to Europe and he became acquainted with the extraordinary world of Grand Prix racing. He was an early contributor to the monthly French F1i Magazine, often providing a historic or business perspective on Formula 1's affairs. In 2012, he co-authored along with fellow journalist Pierre Van Vliet the English-language adaptation of a limited edition book devoted to the great Belgian driver Jacky Ickx. He also authored "The American Legacy in Formula 1", a book which recounts the trials and tribulations of American drivers in Grand Prix racing. Phillip is also a commentator for Belgian broadcaster Be.TV for the US Indycar series.