Nice Rosberg.. Deliberate?

[Halcyon Days]

If this is true, then Nico's behaviour is deplorable and he should be banned for the rest of the season.
Toto must have realised what he had done to be that angry to the media


BBC Sport - Nico Rosberg hit me on purpose, claims Lewis Hamilton

 

[Jim G]

Suspiciously like what happened between Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill

Difficult to prove though, whether he did it on purpose or not but if he did admit it in front of Hamilton and others he should face a ban or large points deduction.

 

[Harrythedog]

I don't think it was deliberate but a suicidal manoeuvre on the 2nd lap

 

[abecketts]

sadly with two huge ego's in one team, each thinking that they may have a chance at the grand prize they will consider such actions. I think he did do it deliberately, will they do anything about it I doubt it.

 

[Stratman]

He as much as admitted it according to Hamilton

 

[w124nut]

Whatever the verdict, this incident is a huge disappointment for all the boys and girls who work behind the scenes for the team; they have been let down.

 

[MCFastybloke]

If nico intended it,then it came with huge risk and so early in the race,i don't think so.If he did them my view would be more personal than team motivated.Wathing Them together off track its clear they are not mates.

 

[stwat]

Lewis Hamilton: Nico Rosberg said Belgian GP collision deliberate - F1 news - AUTOSPORT.com

 

[Deleted member 37751]

Rosberg has admitted doing it 'to teach him a lesson'...

 

[stwat]

His father must be so proud of him !!

 

[neilrr]

Rosberg has earned the push for pulling that stunt today.

Silly boy.

I imagine MB are looking for Ricciardo's phone number this evening.

 

[Stratman]

I don't think they'll sack Rosberg, there's too much 'Germanity' going on. I wouldn't be too surprised if Hamilton didn't make a gentle enquiry to Mclaren, who will have Honda power next season and they tend to produce winning engines.

 

[Halcyon Days]

I don't think they'll sack Rosberg, there's too much 'Germanity' going on....

According to the BBC, Rosberg isn't all that popular in Germany. Finish passport, lives in Monaco etc..
They still have a deep-seated love for Schumacher.

 

[lordlee]

What punishment could you give though? A fine would be insufficient. I would take him out of a race and stick their 3rd driver in - that would certainly make a statement.

 

[AMGeed]

The Constructors championship is a big prize in F1 and I doubt Mercedes would risk another team catching them up by taking Rosberg out of the driver lineup.

I would guess Rosberg will have it made crystal clear his contract would be torn up should he repeat what he did today. That was a move driven by anger at what he perceived was Hamilton's reluctance to move over for him in Hungary. The gloves will be truly off between these two from now on.

 

[John Jones Jr]

Bloody Germans! Still they make good cars all the same.

 

[cb1965]

This is the end of that driver pairing and if Mercedes are stupid enough to keep them together next season you will see Prost/Senna all over again. The writing was on the wall on Thursday to be honest, but Mercedes ignored it. Now the relationship is irreparable.

No punishment of any gravitas will be meted out to Rosberg and the championship is effectively over unless reliability intervenes. A great shame as it was a great season, but this is the end of them being allowed to race and of them (or Rosberg at least) racing fairly.

Rosberg knows now he can canter to the finish and take chances Lewis cannot afford to.. and at the end of the day no one will stop him doing what he wants anyway.

 

[IanMSpencer]

My theory is that if Nico is held to have acted deliberately, then Merc have a PR problem as they do not want Nico to win with the "cheat" label hanging over him.

Nico was poor in the race - when it counted he couldn't make the moves, and it therefore was a double black mark - he is seen as a clear air specialist, along the lines of the Vettel question mark (I should think this season is doing Vettel some good).

So I think the only option Merc have is to suspend Nico for a race and allow Hamilton the chance to catch up 25 points. Then Merc can be seen to have been fair, and the playing field will have been levelled. Problem for Hamilton is whether then the championship would have been seen as being gifted to him instead, but I think the PR benefit for Merc would be far greater than a tarnished championship.

 

[John Jones Jr]

So I think the only option Merc have is to suspend Nico for a race and allow Hamilton the chance to catch up 25 points.

Thanks for the laugh!

 

[IanMSpencer]

Thanks for the laugh!

Getting the Mercedes driver boo'd on the podium will have really stung. They are going to win the driver's championship and constructor's championship but lose the PR.

If Merc are talking about a real punishment rather than a slap on the wrist, I don't see what other options they have. Financial is pointless. They can't fudge the cars. I'm sure it has been done in the past.