Nico Rosberg says he had lost the Hungarian Grand Prix as soon as he was overtaken by Lewis Hamilton at the first corner.
Polesitter Rosberg had a decent getaway but had teammate Hamilton move alongside him on the run down to Turn 1, while Daniel Ricciardo's Red Bull was wheel-to-wheel on the left. With Rosberg squeezed by both men he had to back off, briefly dropping to third behind Ricciardo before reclaiming the position at the next corner.
At a circuit with limited overtaking opportunities Rosberg thinks the start was pivotal.
"For sure, the race was decided there," Rosberg reflected after the race. "My start was OK, but slightly down on Lewis' start and Daniel also ever so slightly. Lewis had the inside line into Turn 1.
"It got a bit tight between the two of them and I had to back out. I'm glad to get second back from Daniel at Turn 2, that was cool, but I lost the win there."
Though he ran Hamilton close throughout, Rosberg was unable to pass his teammate, who now leads the championship for the first time in 2016. Rosberg led the championship by 43 points after Russia but insists he is not dwelling on the ground he has lost in the title fight.
"It is very close. It has been a good season so far, up until now. As I always said, I am not counting points, I am focused on winning races, that is what I wanted to do today but it didn't work out as I lost out of Turn 1. Now I am looking forward to Hockenheim and being focused on winning the race there."