Rosberg takes early lead in Barcelona

Nico Rosberg managed to hold on to his pole position on the first lap of the Spanish Grand Prix, but it was not such a good story for Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

After clinching back-to-back poles for the first time in his Formula One career, Rosberg kept the field behind him around Barcelona’s Circuit de Catalunya.

Hamilton, however, lost two places on lap one, initially to triple world champion Sebastian Vettel on the run down to turn one where the Briton locked up.

Three corners later Ferrari’s Fernando Alonso, who also skated past Kimi Raikkonen in his Lotus at the start, quickly eased his way around Hamilton to drop the 28-year-old to fourth.

The biggest mover was Adrian Sutil in his Force India who moved up five places, from 13th to eighth, come the end of opening lap of the 66.

After five laps Rosberg continued to hold sway, but only by 0.8seconds to Vettel, followed by Alonso, Hamilton, Raikkonen and the second Ferrari of Felipe Massa, with the leading six covered by 3.5secs.

Paul Di Resta was running 10th in his Force India, with Jenson Button slipping to 17th from 14th, and Marussia’s Max Chilton 20th.