Nico Rosberg admitted his relief after race-long brake issues left his Mercedes car ‘right on the edge’ as he held off a charging Daniel Ricciardo to claim a crucial victory at the Singapore Grand Prix.
Rosberg managed to retain his lead at the start and had maintained a comfortable advantage over Ricciardo despite being forced to manage his brakes throughout before the Aussie piled on the pressure with a late pit-stop.
The German was forced to push to keep the Red Bull driver at bay as his lead was slashed and ultimately crossed the line just four tenths ahead.
The win sees Rosberg regain the championship lead, moving eight points clear of team-mate Lewis Hamilton with six races remaining.
Speaking on the podium after the race, he claimed Ricciardo’s late charge made the victory “all the more satisfying”.
“It’s been an awesome weekend here in Singapore for me,” Rosberg, celebrating his 200th Grand Prix, said.
“Today I had a great start, had a good car in the race. Daniel tried to pull one up on me with the pit stop at the end. We knew it was going to be tight at the end, but it worked out so I’m really, really happy.
“The whole car was on the edge, it always is here in Singapore, so it’s all the more satisfying with a race like that.”
Asked what his latest triumph, his third in a row, does for his championship chances, the 31-year old was keen to stress that his focus is not on the standings.
“I’m not focused on points, and I always say, I’m just happy with the win today,” he insisted.
