2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg has given his take on the nasty moment that took place between Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and George Russell a few weeks ago at the Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton and Russell had a nervy moment on that instance as they collided with each other during the qualifying session.
While there was no significant damage fortunately for both drivers, things could have been far worse for a moment like that. After the session, Russell accepted the blame for the incident by stating that there was a “communication gap” with his team.
On the other hand, although Hamilton fumed on the team radio immediately after this moment took place, he did understand that Russell was not entirely at fault either. As a result, both drivers then blamed Mercedes for the miscommunication.
And as for Rosberg, after he watched how this incident transpires between the two Mercedes teammates, he recalled his own incident with Hamilton that took place back at the 2016 Spanish GP. In that instance, Rosberg and Hamilton took each other out on the opening lap of the race.
“I didn’t see Lewis“: Nico Rosberg defends himself for 2016 collision
While speaking on Sky Sports (as quoted by msn.com), Nico Rosberg explained how his collision with Lewis Hamilton back in 2016 was very similar to the moment between the 38-year-old Briton and George Russell. Since Rosberg believes that the two moments were identical, he has interestingly defended himself for the collision he had with Hamilton back in 2016.
“I didn’t see Lewis coming. How was I supposed to know he was behind me? Very comparable, actually,” he explained. After giving his side of the story, Rosberg explained Toto Wolff’s fuming reaction to the same.
“There was absolute silence for us at first. That was very, very difficult,” Rosberg explained. Since Rosberg faced Wolff’s wrath, it could have easily been Russell that faced it, had the Austrian deemed the Briton at fault.
The German then concluded his remarks by stating that it was Niki Lauda that played the mediator between him and Hamilton. Rosberg believes that Lauda played a vital role as he was able to reduce the already existing animosity that the two had for each other at the time.
“Lewis also needs to apologize“: Rosberg on Hamilton’s collision with Russell
After defending himself for the collision he had with Lewis Hamilton back in 2016, Nico Rosberg also blamed the Briton partially for what transpired between him and current Mercedes teammate George Russell. “George apologized, which I think is right, but I think Lewis [Hamilton] also needs to apologize,” said Rosberg while speaking on Sky Sports.
Rosberg explained his point by describing that Russell’s lap would have been significantly compromised, had Hamilton passed him. Rosberg believes that this would have been the case as Russell would have been “stuck behind” Hamilton. Since this lap was Russell’s last attempt to get into Q3, Rosberg believes that Hamilton definitely needed to “apologize later on.“
