Nico Rosberg beat Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in a tense fight for victory in the Monaco Grand Prix. Hamilton, still angry from what he saw as Rosberg’s gamesmanship to seal pole in qualifying, tracked him for much of the race.
The race was a slow-burner which came alive in the closing laps as Ricciardo challenged Hamilton, and a series of dramatic incidents led to constant changes for the lower points positions.
The first safety car was employed on the opening lap after McLaren’s Jenson Button knocked Sergio Perez’s Force India into a spin on the exit of Mirabeau.
Vettel retired with an engine problem as the race was re-started on lap four, and there was a typical Monaco stalemate until another safety car on lap 28 – triggered by a crash at the chicane by Sauber’s Adrian Sutil.
In the closing stages, Ricciardo closed in quickly, catching Hamilton by lap 72, with six laps to go, but the Mercedes driver managed to hold him off until the end.
The result moves Rosberg back into the championship lead, four points clear of his team-mate.
