Monaco GP: Nico Rosberg insists Mercedes isn't pole favourite
Monaco pacesetter Nico Rosberg remains wary that Mercedes' Formula 1 rivals are yet to show their strongest hands in Monte Carlo


Mercedes had been a popular tip for victory heading into the weekend, and Rosberg proved such views were not without foundation as he went fastest in both practice sessions in the Principality.
Rosberg feels Mercedes can be confident it is at least in the hunt for what would be a fourth straight pole position, but admitted there is still uncertainty over the opposition's pace.
"Generally I'm pleased with today, it was a good day going in the right direction," Rosberg said.
"I felt comfortable in the car, and we know we're more or less in the hunt for a good result in qualifying - somewhere towards the front - but we have to wait and see.
"We really don't know what other teams are doing, what they are running.
"I don't know if [Mercedes' pace] is going to be enough or not.
"The other thing is long-run pace: it's better, but there are still some issues there, it still could be a problem. So there are a couple of question marks."
Asked whether Mercedes could carry its practice two form into qualifying and secure another front-row lockout, Rosberg added: "It's way too early to think about that."
Hamilton, who progressed from fifth to second fastest over the opening two sessions, admits he still needs to find time from himself and through the car.
The Briton, outqualified by Rosberg in Bahrain and Spain, trailed his team-mate by three tenths of a second in the second session.
"It looks pretty good, I just have to improve my one-lap pace - there's a bit from me and a bit from the car," Hamilton explained.
"We had a bit of graining and understeer, but the long runs seemed to go pretty well, so we'll see."
Latest news
Inside the Faenza facility where AlphaTauri’s F1 pragmatic vision is realised
AlphaTauri’s mission in F1 is to sell clothes and train young drivers rather than win the championship – but you still need a cutting-edge factory to do that. Team boss Franz Tost takes GP Racing’s OLEG KARPOV on a guided tour of a facility that’s continuing to grow
Connecting two of Ferrari's favourite F1 sons
Gilles Villeneuve's exploits behind the wheel of a Ferrari made him a legend to the tifosi, even 40 years after his death. The team's current Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc enjoys a similar status, and recently got behind the wheel of a very special car from the French-Canadian’s career
How a 30cm metal wire triggered open warfare in the F1 paddock
Porpoising has become the key talking point during the 2022 Formula 1 season, as teams battle to come to terms with it. An FIA technical directive ahead of the Canadian Grand Prix and a second stay appearing on the Mercedes cars only served to create a bigger debate and raise tensions further
Does Verstappen have any weaknesses left?
Having extended his Formula 1 points lead with victory in Canada, Max Verstappen has raised his game further following his 2021 title triumph. Even on the days where Red Bull appears to be second best to Ferrari, Verstappen is getting the most out of the car in each race. So, does he have any weaknesses that his title rivals can exploit?
How F1's future fuels can shape the automotive sector
In 2026, Formula 1 plans to make the switch to a fully sustainable fuel, as the greater automotive world considers its own alternative propulsion methods. Biogasoline and e-fuels both have merit as 'drop-in' fuels but, equally, both have their shortcomings...
The breakthrough behind Sainz’s best weekend of F1 2022 so far
OPINION: Carlos Sainz came close to winning in Monaco but needed that race’s specific circumstances for his shot at a maiden Formula 1 victory to appear. Last weekend in Canada, he led the line for Ferrari in Charles Leclerc’s absence from the front. And there’s a key reason why Sainz has turned his 2022 form around
Canadian Grand Prix Driver Ratings 2022
Plenty of high scores but just a single perfect 10 from the first Montreal race in three years, as Max Verstappen fended off late pressure from Carlos Sainz. Here’s Autosport’s assessment on the Formula 1 drivers from the Canadian Grand Prix
Why “faster” Ferrari couldn’t beat Red Bull in Canadian GP
On paper the Canadian Grand Prix will go down as Max Verstappen’s latest triumph, fending off late pressure from Carlos Sainz to extend his Formula 1 world championship lead. But as safety car periods, virtual and real, shook up the race Ferrari demonstrated it can take the fight to Red Bull after recent failures