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    14 April 2012| last updated at 06:33PM

    Mercedes revel in China one-two



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    Shanghai: Mercedes were celebrating on Saturday their first front-row lock-out since the 1955 Italian Grand Prix at Monza and driver Nico Rosberg’s maiden pole position, on a day of firsts in Shanghai.

    Rosberg described it as “a very special day” after he demolished the field  to take pole for the Chinese Grand Prix on Sunday. His team-mate and fellow  German Michael Schumacher was third-fastest but takes second on the grid.

    McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton, who was second fastest in qualifying, already  knew he would be hit with a five-place penalty for a gearbox infraction, making  it a Mercedes one-two.

    “Firstly it was a strange feeling because I was watching the end of Q3  (final qualifying) from the FIA garage as we decided to save a set of option  tyres for the race, and I couldn’t do anything but watch,” said Rosberg, 26.

    “Seeing that I finished at the top of the timesheets and with half a second in hand made me the happiest man today. “Thanks to the team, everyone here and in the factories, who have done a  great job to develop and improve our Silver Arrow.

    “We don’t know what will happen in the race tomorrow, and it will be a  challenge to stay in front, but for the moment, I will enjoy starting next to  Michael from the front row, which is also very special to me.” Seven-time world champion Schumacher said it was “a special day for our  Mercedes-Benz team”.   

    “It’s a great result, and I am very happy for everybody. Congratulations to  Nico, he achieved his first pole position with a just fabulous lap. I can  easily respect he did the better job today, and I am happy for him.”    

    Schumacher added: “We are doing all we can to bring the Mercedes-Benz name  to the front, where it belongs. As for me, I am happy too, and obviously my  ambition for the race is to stay where we are now.”   

    Ross Brawn, Mercedes team principal, said: “It was an exceptional  qualifying session for us and I am very pleased with the way the whole team  worked to achieve it. “Congratulations to both drivers, but especially Nico on a stunning lap  which earned him his first pole position.” -- AFP

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