CHAMPIONSHIP LEADER NICO Rosberg edged out Mercedes team-mate and title rival Lewis Hamilton by 0.013 seconds to claim pole for Sunday’s Japanese Grand Prix.
Rosberg was quicker than Hamilton throughout Saturday’s first two qualifying sessions, but saw the British driver initially post the quickest time in Q3.
However, Rosberg, who leads the drivers’ standings by 23 points following Hamilton’s dramatic retirement in Malaysia last time out, just about held the edge when the duo completed their final laps.
A time of one minute and 30.647 seconds was enough for the German to take pole at Suzuka for the third year in succession. In 2014 and 2015, it was Hamilton who went on to win the race.
This time around, Rosberg will hope to maintain the momentum that has seen him follow up success at Sepang by posting the quickest times in every track session this weekend so far.
The two Mercedes were followed by the Ferraris of Kimi Raikkonen (+0.302secs) and Sebastian Vettel (+0.381s), while Red Bull’s Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo were fifth and sixth respectively.
The top 10 was rounded out by the drivers of Force India and Haas, although it’s look will change on Sunday as Vettel takes a three-place grid penalty following his collision with Rosberg in Malaysia.
Provisional Classification:
1. Nico Rosberg (Mercedes): 1:30.647secs
2. Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes): 1:30.660s
3. Kimi Raikkonen (Ferrari): 1:30.949s
4. Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari): 1:31.028s
5. Max Verstappen (Red Bull): 1:31.178s
6. Daniel Ricciardo (Red Bull): 1:31.240s
7. Sergio Perez (Force India): 1:31.961s
8. Romain Grosjean (Haas): 1:31.961s
9. Nico Hulkenberg (Force India): 1:32.642s
10. Esteban Gutierrez (Haas): 1.32.547s
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While keeping Hooper in Australia for the next 5 years is obviously the priority, 5 years is a big commitment for Hooper to make for one contract, even if it’s for 5 million. Financially it would be a great move for Hooper but whether he wants to tie himself down for that long is questionable.
I personally think that the ARU would be better off putting a 3-year contract on the table for 3 million-which is still too much for European clubs to buy out for 2 years at least-and then look at it again in 2021. Add in the factor that there is a high injury rate for international backrows in their late twenties and the ARU could possibly offer less money in 3 years time.
Regardless of whether Hooper takes the contract or not, this offer shows the desperate state that Australian rugby union is in at the moment.
@EK: With league cherry picking some of union’s best youngsters (Ponga and Crichton to name but a few), the ARU needs to keep as many high-profile names at home as possible-there has to be some union players for youngsters to aspire to. Too many young union players want to be the next Cooper Cronk(another union schoolboy) or Greg Inglis rather than the next Will Genia or David Pocock. Union’s not dead yet in Australia, but it could be soon if they don’t take drastic action.
@EK: the ARU have mismanaged the game to catastrophic levels in the last 15 years. All the focus was on setting up new franchises and very little on grassroots development. As a result the game suffered in Queensland and NSW, and didn’t even make a dent in Victoria or WA.
He’s no Dan Leavy