Nico Rosberg struggling since winning first four races of F1 season

MONTREAL – After a blistering start to the 2016 Formula One season, series leader Nico Rosberg has been slowing down.

Rosberg finished fifth at the Canadian Grand Prix in Montreal on Sunday despite starting in second place. Rosberg’s Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton won the race at Circuit Gilles Villeneuve after starting at the pole.

“The whole race was so complicated,” Rosberg said. “It was a very frustrating day. But the car was great again today. Disappointing to finish fifth with such a car.”

Rosberg had a 43-point advantage in the overall standings after winning the first four races the year, but the German has not made the podium since.

Now seven races into the season, Rosberg’s lead over Hamilton in the championship table is down to nine points.

Last month in Barcelona, Rosberg was forced to retire from the Spanish Grand Prix after he crashed into Hamilton on the first lap of the race.

In Monaco two weeks ago, he finished seventh after starting the race on the front row.

In Montreal, Rosberg again started in the front row beside Hamilton but quickly fell into 10th just seconds into the race.

Hamilton had a bad start, and his teammate tried taking advantage of it. But as Rosberg attempted to pass on Turn 1, the front wheels of both Mercedes’ touched.

Rosberg lost control of his car and ended up on the grass.

“I was massively pissed off in the moment,” said Rosberg of the collision. “But in the end, it’s just racing on the edge. Of course, very very frustrating. But it’s my job to make sure I’m ahead after a battle like that.

“It just didn’t work out today.”

Hamilton said his slow start was probably due to an overheated clutch.

Rosberg made his first pit stop on lap 21, emerging from pit lane in ninth place. That’s when he began his slow grind towards the race leader.

The German blew past Force India’s Sergio Perez on Lap 25. After pit stops by Felipe Massa, Kimi Raikkonen, Daniel Ricciardo and Max Verstappen, Rosberg was in fourth place with 20 laps remaining.

The 30-year-old had no intention of pitting again, but his Mercedes got a puncture in the right rear tire and he was forced to stop.

Rosberg blamed his non-podium finish on that impromptu visit to pit lane.

With a new set of soft tires, Rosberg jumped ahead of Ricciardo on Lap 55, and then Raikkonen on Lap 58.

His sights were set on Red Bull’s Verstappen, who was in fourth.

“I was really low on fuel, because of battling all the way through, and always having to overtake,” said Rosberg. “And it was difficult to understand how low. I knew the number was massively red, and I didn’t know if I would get to the end of the race.”

Rosberg made three attempts to pass to the 18-year-old but never made it by.

“Every time I launched an attack, he defended very well,” said Rosberg. “I needed to back off again to save fuel.”

The third attempt came on the last lap of the race. On the final chicane, Rosberg gave it his all on turn 13 but he lost control of his car and spun off the track.

“It was very hard because his pace was pretty strong,” said Verstappen. “But we managed to keep him behind. That last lap was pretty spectacular.

“I didn’t want to give up that position. I fought for it.”