Even so Rosenqvist’s performance attracted plenty of admirers, and we discovered later that his drive was even more impressive than it appeared. He had to drive the second half of the race one-handed due to a trapped nerve. “This was the toughest race I’ve ever done,” Rosenqvist said. “I’m knackered. Driving like this for over two hours between the walls, with every second counting and with no power steering is a real physical and mental challenge. To add to that, I trapped a nerve in my right arm and had to drive the last 40 laps basically with just one arm. I’m glad I’ve stepped up my training this winter and I’m proud to have achieved what I did today. We’ve got a great platform to build on for the rest of the season.” Plenty of Rosenqvist’s rivals were full of praise for his drive, and this included his stable-mate Dixon. “The guy has got a ton of experience in so many different cars,” Dixon noted, “so it’s been really refreshing to not be in the same ecosystem and thinking of the same things. He’s kind of thinking outside the box. He’s a strong guy, very committed and obviously very talented and he’s going to be a hell of a fight for the whole year, and it’s nice to be working with somebody really close on the speed side.” Images courtesy ofHonda
