MONACO: Nico Rosberg led from start to finish and won the showcase Monaco Grand Prix for the second year in a row on Sunday to snatch back the Formula One world championship lead from Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.

The pole-setting German’s second victory of the season and fifth of his career took his points tally after six races to 122 with Hamilton on 118.

The Briton, who complained 13 laps from the end that he had something in his eye and could not see properly, was second as dominant Mercedes chalked up a sixth win in a row and fifth successive one-two finish.

Red Bull rookie Daniel Ricciardo clinched his second straight third-place finish but was unable to get past Hamilton after a nose-to-tail chase to the finish on a track that is the most difficult to overtake on in Formula One.

The Ferrari of Fernando Alonso took fourth.

The race proved a reasonably straightforward affair after the drama of Saturday’s qualifying when Rosberg had to survive an official inquiry and accusations of wrongdoing.

Four-time defending champion Sebastian Vettel’s frustrating season continued as he retired after eight laps with a power unit failure in his 100th race for Red Bull.

Published in Dawn, May 26th, 2014