Hamilton:Nico Rosberg pipped Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to pole position at the German Grand Prix in a dramatic qualifying session.
Rosberg had to abort his first run in the top 10 shootout because of an electronic error but had the fastest lap of the weekend on his final run.
Hamilton went out to do his final lap afterwards but two errors meant he ended up 0.107secs adrift. Daniel Ricciardo headed Max Verstappen in an all Red Bull second row. The Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen and Sebastian Vettel were fifth and sixth.
Rosberg’s pole was his second in a row and his fifth of the season but perhaps more importantly it is the first time he has beaten Hamilton on merit when the two have been shooting it out in the final seconds of the session.
Of his four previous poles, Hamilton was unable to compete in China and Russia because of engine problems, he crashed in the European Grand Prix in Baku after an error-strewn performance and had to back out of his final lap in Hungary last weekend when he came across Fernando Alonso’s McLaren, which had spun.
As such, it was an important step for Rosberg, who lost the championship lead to Hamilton for the first time this season following the Briton’s fifth win in six races last weekend.
The two title rivals are now tied 6-6 on their head-to-head pole position record this season.
“It is a great feeling,” said Rosberg. “Just a great lap. I also had extra fuel because to make sure I do have another shot, so I had fuel for three laps.”
