Mercedes’ Nico Rosberg Cruises to Victory in Azerbaijan’s Debut GP

Rosberg increased his championship lead over Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton to 24 points.

(Photo: AP)

• Nico Rosberg has wos the Baku Grand Prix, Lewis Hamilton finished fifth
  
• Rosberg has now stretched his lead in the driver’s standings to 24 points
  
• Force India’s Sergio Perez finished third on the podium.
  

Nico Rosberg cruised to victory in the first Formula One race held in Azerbaijan on Sunday and increased his championship lead over Mercedes team mate Lewis Hamilton to 24 points.

While the German enjoyed an uneventful drive in the late afternoon sunshine, triple world champion Hamilton worked up a head of steam as he wrestled with his car’s settings without the team being able to help.

The Briton, who had sounded increasingly petulant, fixed the problem but finished fifth in a race billed as the European Grand Prix.

Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel took second place, 16.6 seconds behind, with Force India’s Mexican Sergio Perez in third place after overtaking Kimi Raikkonen’s Ferrari on the last lap.