Rosberg rules in Monaco

Lewis Hamilton insists he has cleared the air with team-mate Nico Rosberg, but in the aftermath of the Monaco Grand Prix there is an overwhelming feeling the toxicity remained.

The atmosphere on the podium was poisonous after Hamilton finished runner-up to Rosberg, with the German securing back-to-back lights-to-flag wins around the streets of the principality to end the Briton’s run of four wins.

Forget a polite acknowledgement, there was not even a glance from one to the other at any stage. It was as if they were strangers rather than Mercedes colleagues who had just secured a record-equalling fifth one-two.

Hamilton appeared outraged at what he saw as an injustice during qualifying when Rosberg, on provisional pole, out-braked himself into Mirabeau in the closing stages.

The resultant yellow flags then thwarted Hamilton’s bid for pole as the 29 -year-old following behind was on a quicker lap and would likely have claimed top spot on the grid.

Although Hamilton was rarely more than a second off Rosberg from the start of the blue-riband race, for the first 60 out of the 78 laps he did not have a single chance to overtake.

A problem with his left eye then saw him fall behind the German and almost into the clutches of Red Bull’s Daniel Ricciardo who hounded Hamilton over the closing stages, but the Australian ultimately took third.

Asked if there was anything he needed to clear up with Rosberg, Hamilton replied: “No, not really. We’ve sat down and cleared whatever air was needed to be cleared, and we’ve been through the data and seen what needed to be seen. I wish you guys could see it. Otherwise, we’re good. It was a difficult weekend, but what doesn’t break you will make you stronger.”

Mercedes are 141 points clear of Red Bull in the constructors’ title race, and the duo are romping clear in the drivers’ standings — with Rosberg again four points ahead.

Behind the podium trio, at the end of a race that included two safety car periods and saw eight retirements, Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso was fourth, followed by Nico Hulkenberg in his Force India.

McLaren ended their run of three races without a point with Jenson Button sixth and team-mate Kevin Magnussen 10th.

One of the highlights, was Jules Bianchi’s ninth place, which giving Marussia their first points in F1 in their 83rd race.