Despite being around the pace of team-mate Lewis Hamilton during the first two phases of qualifying at Spa-Francorchamps in Belgium, Nico Rosberg was found lacking in Q3 when he was sounded beaten to pole position by the reigning World Champion.
Rosberg was left 0.458s adrift of Mercedes AMG PETRONAS team-mate Hamilton in the end, and admitted his disappointment that he could not continue to match his team-mate until the end of qualifying, but believes he is still in with a chance of making amends in the race and claiming victory.
“Qualifying went well until the end,” said Rosberg. “But in Q3, Lewis just found so much time which unfortunately I didn’t manage to do. So, a disappointing day, but there is still so much to play for in the race.
“I need a good start and then after Eau Rouge there should be a good chance to overtake at the end of the long straight, so I will push hard to make it happen.
“We have a new starting procedure which we all need to get right and it will be interesting to see how that works tomorrow. But, overall, I’m still very positive that a win is possible here in Spa.”
