Nico Rosberg has revealed that an ERS (Energy Recovery System) error was a key factor in his defeat by Mercedes team-mate and championship leader Lewis Hamilton in the US Grand Prix.
The German led the early stages of the race from pole position on Sunday, but he was unable to hold on when Hamilton passed him at the end of the back straight on lap 24. Following a post-race analysis, Rosberg said he discovered that he had been left without extra ERS power to defend his position after requesting the boost via a switch change rather than using a button.
He said: “I made a mistake because I used the wrong thing to get more KERS. When I saw him coming I decided to go for extra boost, but I never got it. I thought I was using the right thing, but there was a delay in that one. If I did it with a button it would be immediate, but with a switch there is a delay, so I never got the extra KERS.
“I had a big drop off, which is why in the last metres he got a good jump on me. So, that was a mistake that I didn’t know about.”
thanks so much, Texas. Really a great event. but was a tough weekend for me. cu next year #nextstop #brasilGP pic.twitter.com/sW6N8nw5ib
— Nico Rosberg (@nico_rosberg) November 3, 2014
Rosberg said he could have been more aggressive in defending the inside line against Hamilton, but added that it would have made little difference.
Meanwhile, Frenchman Jean- Eric Vergne lost his 9th place when he was penalised afterwards for his collision with compatriot Romain Grosjean.
In a busy evening, the stewards also handed out a 7-place grid penalty to Mexican Sergio Perez of Force India for his first lap collision with German Adrian Sutil’s Sauber.
Luckless Vergne, who is searching for a drive for next season, was unable to stop his Toro Rosso car making contact with Grosjean’s Lotus in the closing stages of the race when he locked up his brakes during a passing move at Turn One.
Officials gave Vergne a 5-second penalty for forcing Grosjean’s Lotus off the circuit in the collision.
The penalty means Vergne switched places with Grosjean’s 10th-placed Lotus team-mate Venezuelan Pastor Maldonado in the final result.
Hey @JeanEricVergne, @RGrosjean‘s a little annoyed at what you did to his car! Thanks for returning it @ToroRossoSpy pic.twitter.com/OFdAGXgDo5
— Lotus F1 Team (@Lotus_F1Team) November 2, 2014
Grosjean ultimately finished 11th and he said: “Jean-Eric came into Turn One and bumped into me, broke my front wing and my floor and I couldn’t really recover.
“I was on the radio saying guys, that’s not fair, he should get something, because I could have got P8. I may not get my points and position, but it’s good that Pastor scored and we were finally able to fight with Ferrari and Toro Rosso.”
