Nico Rosberg: "I would have won the race"

Nico Rosberg has insisted that he would have won the British Grand Prix had he not suffered a gearbox failure at Silverstone this afternoon.

The Mercedes driver had been leading the race when he got stuck in fifth gear, allowing teammate Lewis Hamilton to overtake him before retiring at the side of the track.

The German told Sky Sports News: "It is always a good battle, but I was very much in control up until then which is why I was all the more disappointed. I'm very confident that I would have won the race.

"Formula 1 cars are always fragile as they are built right on the edge. You need the ultimate performance so it means things are built lighter and smaller than ever. I think it gives people a glimpse for people of how complex the cars are and it is not always an easy ride."

Hamilton went on to win the race, cutting Rosberg's lead at the top of the drivers' standings to four points.