"Lewis went too far," says Rosbergposted in F126 | 10 | 2015
NICO ROSBERG BLASTED Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton after the US Grand Prix, accusing the newly-crowned world champ of "trying to drive me off the track" at the start of the race.
Starting from pole position, Rosberg lost the lead when Hamilton outbraked him not the tight right-angle left-hander at Turn 1. As Hamilton's car understeered through the corner, his front right wheel made contact with the left front of Rosberg.
The German, who subsequently made a mistake eight laps from the end of the race when he slid wide at Turn 15, essentially gifting Hamilton the race win, also accused his team-mate of being "extremely aggressive".
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"I was in front mid-corner," Rosberg, who eventually exited the corner back in fourth place behind Hamilton and the two Red Bulls, said, "that's the crucial thing. If I'm in-front, then I have a right to the track there.
"He was trying to drive me off the track, but I wasn't moving because I have the right to the track there. So he drove into me, and that's definitely one step too far."
Understandably, Hamilton's interpretation of the situation was entirely different.
"It was very close with Nico at the beginning," Hamilton said. "It wasn't the intention, we both went deep. He was on the outside. He was turning and I wasn't turning so we touched."
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Jim McGill