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Nico Rosberg accuses Lewis Hamilton of selfishness in Chinese Grand Prix win Nico Rosberg accuses Lewis Hamilton of selfishness in Chinese Grand Prix win
(about 1 hour later)
Nico Rosberg effectively accused Lewis Hamilton of selfishness in the wake of the Chinese Grand Prix as their often bitter rivalry resurfaced in Shanghai. Nico Rosberg effectively accused Lewis Hamilton of selfishness at the Chinese Grand Prix as their often bitter rivalry resurfaced in Shanghai.
Hamilton spearheaded a one-two finish at the Shanghai International Circuit to complete a dominant weekend in which he was quickest in every practice session, ahead of claiming his 41st pole and 35th Grand Prix win. Hamilton spearheaded a Mercedes one-two finish to complete a dominant weekend in which he was quickest in every practice session, before claiming his 41st pole and 35th grand prix win.
The 30-year-old was never threatened at any stage, but Rosberg rounded on Hamilton in the post-race media conference, suggesting he was at times slow, so potentially drawing him into the clutches of a chasing Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari. He was never threatened in the race but Rosberg rounded on Hamilton, suggesting he was at times slow, so potentially drawing the German into the clutches of a chasing Sebastian Vettel in his Ferrari.
At one stage, with the gap between Hamilton and Rosberg 2.3 seconds and Vettel close behind, the German took to the radio to inform the team that “Hamilton is driving very slowly. Tell him to speed up”. At one stage, with the gap to Hamilton 2.3 seconds and Vettel close behind, Rosberg took to the radio to inform the team “Hamilton is driving very slowly. Tell him to speed up”.
It appeared a strange message as Rosberg was not close enough to pass, but seconds later, by way of explanation, he said: “If I go closer I destroy my tyres, like the first set. That’s the problem.” It appeared a strange message as Rosberg was not close enough to pass but seconds later, by way of explanation, he said: “If I go closer I destroy my tyres, like the first set. That’s the problem.”
That prompted an immediate message to Hamilton as he was told: “Okay Lewis, pick the pace up a little bit.” That prompted an immediate message to Hamilton as he was told: “OK Lewis, pick the pace up a little bit.”
Asked about the message, Hamilton replied: “I wasn’t controlling his race, I was controlling my own race. My goal was to look after my car. I had no real threat from Nico throughout the whole race.” Asked about the message, Hamilton said: “I wasn’t controlling his race, I was controlling my own race. My goal was to look after my car. I had no real threat from Nico throughout the whole race.”
The last remark, in particular, was a dig in the ribs for Rosberg who then responded in kind. The last remark, in particular, was a dig in the ribs for Rosberg who then responded in kind: “It’s just now interesting to hear from you Lewis, you were just thinking about yourself with the pace in front when that was compromising my race.
An angry Rosberg said: “It’s just now interesting to hear from you Lewis, you were just thinking about yourself with the pace in front when that was compromising my race. “Driving slower than was maybe necessary in the beginning of the stint meant Sebastian [Vettel] was close to me, and it opened up the opportunity for Sebastian to try an early pit stop to try to jump me, and then I had to cover him.
“Driving slower than was maybe necessary in the beginning of the stint meant Sebastian [Vettel] was close to me, and it opened up the opportunity for Sebastian to try an early pit stop to try and jump me, and then I had to cover him.
“It was unnecessarily close with Sebastian as a result, and also it cost me a lot of race time because I had to cover him. Then my tyres died at the end of the race because my stint was just so much longer, so I’m unhappy about that.”“It was unnecessarily close with Sebastian as a result, and also it cost me a lot of race time because I had to cover him. Then my tyres died at the end of the race because my stint was just so much longer, so I’m unhappy about that.”
Asked to respond, Hamilton said: “It’s not my job to look after Nico’s race, it’s my job to manage the car and bring the car home as healthy and as fast as possible. That’s what I did.Asked to respond, Hamilton said: “It’s not my job to look after Nico’s race, it’s my job to manage the car and bring the car home as healthy and as fast as possible. That’s what I did.
“I didn’t do anything intentionally to slow any of the cars up, I was just focused on myself. If Nico wanted to get by he could have tried, but he didn’t.” “I didn’t do anything intentionally to slow any of the cars up, I was just focused on myself. If Nico wanted to get by he could have tried but he didn’t.”
The spat has reopened the wounds from last year when both men tried to out-manoeuvre one another on and off the track as their battle for the title unfolded.The spat has reopened the wounds from last year when both men tried to out-manoeuvre one another on and off the track as their battle for the title unfolded.
It culminated in Rosberg and Hamilton colliding with one another in the Belgian Grand Prix, resulting in the former being reprimanded and sanctioned by the team. That proved to be a turning point in the championship as Hamilton went on to dominate the closing races, en route to taking his second world title.It culminated in Rosberg and Hamilton colliding with one another in the Belgian Grand Prix, resulting in the former being reprimanded and sanctioned by the team. That proved to be a turning point in the championship as Hamilton went on to dominate the closing races, en route to taking his second world title.