AUSTIN, Texas – Nico Rosberg spoke of nailing the timing in tricky conditions en route to his third straight and fourth overall pole position for Mercedes AMG Petronas, ahead of today’s United States Grand Prix (2:30 p.m. ET, NBC).
Rosberg posted a 1:56.824 in Q2, just over a tenth clear of teammate and World Championship leader Lewis Hamilton at 1:56.929. The two were both more than a second clear of Infiniti Red Bull Racing’s Daniel Ricciardo.
“Obviously a really good qualifying. I was very comfortable with the car,” Rosberg said during the post-qualifying press conference.
“It was difficult out there with aquaplaning. You just really struggle to have control of the car. It’s been quite challenging.
“But I did a good lap with a used set of tires, which was good. Q3, we had a new set to go.”
He didn’t entirely know what to expect for the race, which should be still held in wet if perhaps drying conditions.
“For the race, we have no idea. It was supposed to be drying out,” Rosberg said.
“But who knows. Our cars race in any condition. The weather is fine with me.”
Rosberg enters the race down 73 points to Hamilton, with only a remote chance of remaining mathematically eligible for the World Championship.
If Hamilton outscores him by two points or more, Rosberg will be eliminated; however if Rosberg were to finish ahead, he’d stay alive at least until the Mexican Grand Prix next week.
Rosberg also scored the pole for last year’s USGP, albeit in clean, dry and sunny conditions. But Hamilton passed him for the lead and ultimately, the win.
