‘Rosberg silenced his critics’

Toto Wolff has hailed Nico Rosberg's drive in the Bahrain GP, confident it is the start of the German's fight-back.

Although Rosberg lost second to Kimi Raikkonen on the penultimate lap of the grand prix, that was due to a brake problem not his driving.

Rather the Mercedes racer's Sunday night at the Sakhir circuit will be remember for his thrilling passes on not one but two Ferrari drivers.

Early in the race Rosberg lunged up the inside of Raikkonen to take third while later he was involved in a great battle for Sebastian Vettel in which he also did his overtaking out on track.

The brake problem, though, meant that almost at the very end of the race he dropped back to third after running off the track.

"Everybody who ever doubted Nico saw Nico at his best, fighting hard and overtaking," Wolff, the Mercedes motorsport boss, stated.

"Losing that position because of a brake failure is a bit of a pity, but all in all a one and three must be satisfactory.

"We are four races into the season and there are another 15 left, so I have no doubt that after his driving today, which was exceptional, we will have a very strong Nico bouncing back in Barcelona."