Nico Rosberg: I've conquered my 2014 weaknesses

Although Rosberg had the superior qualifying record last year, with 11 poles to Hamilton's seven, in the races their form was reversed - Hamilton taking 11 victories and Rosberg just five.

With three wins from the last four grands prix including this weekend's Austrian event, Rosberg believes his Sunday troubles are now sorted.

"I had a good start and then good pace in the race - that is what I'm most happy about," said Rosberg, who jumped polesitter Hamilton off the line at the Red Bull Ring then controlled the race.

"I think I have found what I needed to find last year in terms of in the races and that's what is really working out for me this year."

Rosberg expressed concern over the radio about a vibration in the closing stages of the race but said it was not as severe as he had feared.

"It was just vibrations picking up on the right front," he said.

"I was just telling them to keep an eye on it but it was fine in the end, it just came from tyre wear."

Hamilton was trailing Rosberg even before picking up a five-second time penalty for crossing the pitlane exit line following his sole stop - a punishment he was dubious about.

"I don't think I went over anything, to be honest," said Hamilton.

He also suspected a technical issue contributed to him losing the lead at the start.

"I had a problem with the revs," he said.

"I took my foot off the gas and the throttle was still on.

"It was not the best way to start the race but it is something we will work on to improve on my side of the garage."

Later on, Hamilton reflected again about his day's work.

"I was keeping up with Nico in the first stint - but in the second phase he just had better pace," he said.

"At the end it was just about bringing it home - but Nico deserved the win so congratulations to him."

When Lewis Hamilton took pole position on Saturday, it looked as if his dominance would go unchallenged once again - and indeed, were it not for a matter of a few tenths from a poor start, there is every reason to think that Hamilton might have done enough to keep his nose in front on Sunday. No doubt Rosberg would have been grumbling constantly on the pit radio about being held up, but no doubt Mercedes would have kept their proven champion happy and told the pair not to jeopardise each others' races. F1 might be a two-horse race this season, but at least they're interesting horsess.