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Rosberg on pole for German GP

July 30, 2016

Nico Rosberg overcomes electrical problems to record a superb time and claim pole position at the German Grand Prix in Hockenheim, ahead of Mercedes rival Lewis Hamilton.

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Deutschland Nico Rosberg Qualifying Hockenheim
Image: picture alliance/AP Photo/M. Probst

Nico Rosberg grabbed pole position ahead of his world championship leading Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton for Sunday's German Grand Prix with a bold fastest lap in the final minutes of a tense qualifying session on Saturday.

The 31-year-old German produced a startling best lap of one minute and 14.323 seconds to outpace the defending three-time champion by 0.123 seconds, having been forced to abort his first flying lap in the third qualifying session due to electrical problems.

When Hamilton went for his final lap, he was unable to improve and regain the initiative as Rosberg, on home soil, set himself up for a chance to regain the lead in the drivers' championship.

Deutschland Nico Rosberg Qualifying Hockenheim
Rosberg produced a startling best lap of one minute and 14.323 seconds to outpace HamiltonImage: picture alliance/AP Photo/J. Meyer

"Well done, Nico, a fantastic lap and well done under the circumstances," said Mercedes technical chief Paddy Lowe, who revealed that Rosberg's car was heavily fueled.

It was Rosberg's 27th career pole. Behind the two Silver Arrows came Australian Daniel Ricciardo, in his 100th Grand Prix. He was third-fastest for Red Bull ahead of his team-mate Dutch teenager Max Verstappen, the pair slightly more than three-tenths behind.

The two Ferraris of four-time champion German Sebastian Vettel and his team-mate Finn Kimi Raikkonen were fifth and sixth ahead of another German, Nico Hulkenberg of Force India, Finn Valtteri Bottas of Williams, Mexican Sergio Perez in the second Force India and Brazilian Felipe Massa in the second Williams.