Nico Rosberg questions ‘safety freak’ Lewis Hamilton
Nico Rosberg has all guns blazing as he bids to put his world championship campaign back on track at Spa and beyond.
Before the summer break, the German lost his once-significant championship lead to teammate Lewis Hamiltonas the British driver strung together four wins.
However, Rosberg now says that there is a “clean slate” for Belgium and beyond.
“What’s happened so far this season is in the past,” said the German.
Yet he is not quite ready to forget a controversy that happened in Hungary, which was still being discussed a week later at Hockenheim – and now again ahead of Spa.
“I think [Hamilton’s complaint] was regrettable,” team boss Paddy Lowe said.
“Personally, he should have kept to advice from the team and we can obtain that from Charlie as necessary. I don’t think there was any harm done. It was just a misjudgement from that point of view.”
However, there is clearly some harm in the relationship between Rosberg and Hamilton, as even now Rosberg is still raising the matter with the press.
Rosberg said sarcastically: “I think it’s interesting to see how he’s become such a safety freak all of a sudden.
“That right after a double-yellow flag, he decides to go to the people in charge and discuss it. He’s not known for being such a safety freak,” Rosberg is quoted as saying by The Sun.
Rosberg does not hide that the Mercedes duo’s relationship is frosty.
“It’s difficult with so much at stake. I just want to beat him,” he said.
Rosberg trails Hamilton by 19 points going into the race in Belgium.