Nico Rosberg saw off a late rally from Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton to take pole at the Brazilian Grand Prix.
It looked as though Hamilton was all but out of contention after his car spun on lap 28 but the English driver managed to stage a late comeback but Rosberg was able to hold off the challenge.
The result means that Rosberg kept the title race alive although Hamilton can win the title by finishing second to Rosberg when they meet in the season’s final race in Abu Dhabi.
Speaking about the Brazilian Grand Prix, Rosberg said: “I’ve been feeling comfortable in the car and controlled the gap to Lewis in the race.”
Hamilton’s spin turned out to be the deciding factor as it initially cost him seven seconds. Despite fighting back to stay within second of Rosberg, the win was out of Hamilton’s grasp.
Hamilton said of the spin: “I was a much quicker up to that point. I went a second quicker on the next lap, thought I was going to pit on that lap, used all my tyres and on the next lap there was nothing left.
“I locked the rear and went wide. No-one’s mistake but mine. It was a great race pushing right to the finish, which is what motor racing’s all about.”
