Lewis Hamilton has thanked his "gentleman" teammate for giving way during today's race.

Struggling for grip in the conditions, once the safety car was withdrawn it was clear that Hamilton, running in third behind Rosberg and race leader Daniel Ricciardo, was quicker than his German teammate.

On a track notorious for overtaking in ideal conditions, Hamilton was never going to get by his teammate in the damp without risking a repeat of Barcelona and eliminating both cars.

Aware of the situation, and that Rosberg was struggling, the team finally took the decision to ask the German to yield to his teammate, he duly obliged, slowing at Beau Rivage on the run up the hill to Massenet.

"It was clear that not reversing the situation between Nico and Lewis would definitely lose us the race," admitted Toto Wolff. "We waited for quite a while, gave him more laps, for the tyre to come in but it didn't. Finally we decided to call it because the pace was just so much slower. It proved to be the right decision."

"At the time it was pretty simple because it's a rule that we've had for many, many years now," said Rosberg, who ended the race a disappointing seventh, being passed by Nico Hulkenberg in the final few seconds.

"It was pretty obvious at the time that I'm not going to be able to fight for a win with that pace," admitted the German. "They gave me a warning, 'try and up the pace', and I wasn't able to. The next step is 'let Lewis by' and I think the final result made it worthwhile for the team because Lewis wouldn't have won otherwise."

"I came here today thinking: 'I have just got to go and do it,' because no one is going to give it to me," said Hamilton. "I didn't know whether I could win, but knowing that it would rain opened up the window of opportunity.

"I thought Nico had a problem," he continued. "I knew when I was behind him that I was much, much quicker than him. I was also conscious that none of us are going to win this race if I am stuck behind.

"When the team ask you to push and you are not able to and it is hindering the team's chance of winning we have that agreement. I said thanks for being a gentleman."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Spindoctor, 31/05/2016 7:22

"Credit to Rosberg for following Team Orders.
The "technical issues" explanation for his lack of pace appears a bit thin. If he had a serious problem, surely the team would not have given him several laps to speed up?

Rosberg is a fast driver, but seems to work very much "by the numbers", while the likes of Hamilton, Ricciardo & Verstappen seem able to detect grip and drive using a better-developed 6th sense.

Nico's wins also tend to come when he gets to the front immediately and doesn't have to mix it in any wheel-to-wheel action. This plays to the strengths of the Mercedes car which only works well in clean air. Other cars, the RBR & Torro Rossos in particular, seem a little better when following closely."

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2. Posted by JackTheCat, 30/05/2016 20:52

"Rosberg has driven pretty much faultlessly so far this seaso, but in Monaco he struggled for whatever reason and therefore let his teammate by... the same teammate who was at least part way culpable for his failure to finish the previous GP. Cut him some slack!!!"

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3. Posted by Jonno, 30/05/2016 17:23

"Tosh. Read Rosberg's post race statements. He wasn't confident enough to drive quickly, his brakes may have been a problem, a poor pit stop, etc.
None of that explains how he allowed himself to taken on the finish line on a track where you can't be overtaken."

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4. Posted by Tweek, 30/05/2016 16:17

"Wow Jonno. Way to kick a guy when he's down. Rosberg ate his pride on track and let his teammate by because of a mechanical issue and team request. ( a favor I'm not sure he would have received had the situation been reversed) That was an act of sportsmanship and humility. "

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5. Posted by Jonno, 30/05/2016 13:36

"I can't be the only one who knows that when the chips are down and it's necessary to really push and race, Rosberg is found wanting. As they say in cricket he's a "flat track bully", but when the balls start flying around his head, he's not got the bottle to battle it out. Losing 6th place on the line says it all. After this race, Lauda's recent comments further show what an old fool he is.
Rosberg will never be a deserving champion all the time he's got a hole where the sun don't shine."

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Hamilton thanks "gentleman" Rosberg

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