Nico Rosberg was content with second place behind Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in the Mexican Grand Prix, expressing his relief after emerging from a turn one collision with Max Verstappen unscathed.
Rosberg was forced to take to the grass at the first corner after making contact with Verstappen as the Dutchman tried to force a way past, with Hamilton retaining the lead despite running wide following a lock-up.
The German was investigated for allegedly gaining an advantage, but escaped a penalty, going on to finish a distant second and limit the damage to his championship lead.
Rosberg, who is now 19 points clear of his team-mate, can seal his maiden F1 title with victory next time out in Interlagos, where he won in both 2014 and 2015.
Had he sustained damage at the start of the race, however, the picture would be far different, and Rosberg admits he expected his car to ‘fall to bits’ after the collision.
“First of all, Lewis did a better job this weekend,” he said. “He went into the corner first and came out first, so that’s OK.
“Apart from that, for me there was a lot going on, it was quite eventful. In the end, second place, I have to live with that. Lewis was quicker and deserved the win.
“It was a quite big thump [with Max Verstappen at the start] and I thought my car would have been falling to bits,” he added in an interview with Sky Sports F1.
Even amid Hamilton’s late-season resurgence, Rosberg can afford to finish second and third in the remaining two races and still win the title, meaning only a retirement, collision or disastrous error can realistically snatch it from his grasp.
