The Monaco Grand Prix is a race like no other, winding around the high rise apartments, jewellery stores and luxury yachts of the principality of Monte Carlo. Cars flash past metal barriers, barrel up and down twisting hills, and plunge into the darkness of a tunnel at full throttle. The jewel in the crown of the Formula 1 calendar always delivers talking points, drama, and flat-out racing. This year's race was by no means an exception. As the dust settled on the street circuit lining the French Riviera it was immediately apparent that an air of tension was hanging over the winning team. Mercedes-Benz driver Nico Rosberg had secured a solid victory over his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, but there were no congratulatory hugs or smiles on the podium. To onlookers, it would be almost unbelievable that the two drivers were once childhood friends and karting team-mates.
Qualifying
Rewind to the Qualifying session on Saturday and the plot begins to unravel. The two Mercedes drivers had been utterly dominant all this season, and a Silver Arrow pole position was inevitable. But in the closing moments of the session, with Rosberg holding provisional pole and Hamilton looking to snatch it away, something unexpected happened. Sliding down towards the tight right hander at Mirabeau, Rosberg locked up and ran off, bringing out the yellow flags. Effectively all lap times would be neutralised, Hamilton's included, as Rosberg's stopped car was deemed to be in a dangerous position. With the clock run down, nobody could improve on their laps, and Rosberg claimed first on the grid for the race. Some cried foul play, whilst Hamilton ceded pole with clear frustration. The question had to be asked. Had Rosberg deliberately gone off track to ensure pole position?
