Nico Rosberg increased his lead in the drivers' championship when he returned to winning ways with a smoothly comfortable lights-to-flag victory for Mercedes in Sunday's European Grand Prix. The 30-year-old German, who had seen his advantage cut to nine points after three poor races, came home comfortably clear of second-placed compatriot Sebastian Vettel of Ferrari.
His Mercedes team-mate and defending champion Lewis Hamilton came home a frustrated fifth after a race dogged by technical problems on the tricky new Baku street circuit as Azerbaijan hosted its maiden Formula One race. After two successive wins had lifted him back into contention for a fourth title, Hamilton slipped back to 24 points behind Rosberg whose return to form brought him a 19th career victory. Rosberg now has 141 points in the title race and Hamilton 117.