Rosberg: I went for the safest strategy

Nico Rosberg cruised to a comfortable victory in the Bahrain Grand Prix after his main rivals faltered, and with it the German extended his championship lead while notching up his fifth consecutive F1 win and bagging the 16th grand prix victory of his career. He spoke after a a very satisfying 'day at the office'.

Your 16th victory, your fifth in a row. Any man that has done that has won a world championship, so a good day in the office.
Nico Rosberg: Oh for sure. It’s been an awesome weekend. The key was really the start. I got a great getaway and from then on I was trying to control the pace. Very, very happy with today; absolutely awesome to get another win.

What a dream start to this season. Do you want to share a few more thoughts with the race fans out there?
NR: No, just congratulations to Bahrain really, for staging such an awesome race weekend here. Such a great race track here also, in the desert. It’s been, I think, fantastic for all of you, I’m sure you had a lot of fun and we’ll be back again next year of course.

The start was key – but also were some strategy decisions and changes, particularly favouring the supersoft tyre in the final third of the race. Can you talk us through the start and particularly those decisions and what it was like from the cockpit?
NR: Yeah, we’ve been working a lot on the starts. I’m pleased that it worked out so well, it was a really good getaway on the dirty side of the grid and that really made my race in the end. And from then on the car was feeling great and just controlling the pace and playing it safe. That’s what we were trying to do. Also, in case the Safety Car comes and things like that. So we really went for the safest strategy, not the fastest strategy. Just to cover all eventualities.

So you anticipated maybe running supersofts later in the race?
NR: Anticipated? No. As I say, went for the strategy which was safest, to cover all eventualities like Safety Car or anything else that can happen.

How important is it now, confidence-wise and momentum-wise for you, having won the first two races of the season?
NR: It’s not something I think about. I’m just taking it race by race and it’s great to win here today, great to win two on the trot and that’s it. Next race – where are we going, China? It is a good moment because we have a good car and I just want to make the most of it.