Lewis Hamilton’s former Mercedes team-mate, Nico Rosberg, is the latest driver to weigh in on the opening lap crash at the British Grand Prix.
Several current and former racers have shared their opinion on what is the most highly talked about incident in the sport for years, as Hamilton and Max Verstappen go head-to-head in F1’s first major two-team championship battle since 2012.
Rosberg, who has had his own high-profile clashes with Hamilton during their time as team-mates at Mercedes, has joined a growing chorus claiming the incident was nothing more than a “racing incident”, and believes such incidents are normal when two drivers are so closely matched and pushing the absolute limits.
“It was a racing incident,” Rosberg told the Express. “I mean everybody is going to the limits, it’s normal when you’re fighting for a race win at Silverstone and you’re fighting for a championship and everything is so closely fought, and you know the importance of coming out first on the first lap.
“It makes a huge difference on the race result, [but it was] a racing incident and just everybody going to the limit.”
The incident has had major ramifications on the championship battle with the gap between the two drivers closed down to just eight points and Rosberg believes things are only going to get better.
“It leaves them in a great intense battle. I can’t wait to switch on the TV for the next instalment. Because it has definitely ramped up the intensity.”
Red Bull was effectively blocking when he moved to the right and he should have been punished.
Sensible and realistic from someone who might not be a totally impartial witness.
Roll over, Red Bull. Show your class on the track and deduct 50% from MV’s wages if you really don’t get the nature of your business and need to claw something back.
This is why I can not wait for the new cars next year. It always was too difficult to pass or follow close and it made for boring races when whoever was leading after lap1 would likely win the race.