Mercedes' Lewis Hamilton says he does not know how to approach the next race after Sunday's Belgian GP collision with his teammate and championship rival Nico Rosberg
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg (right) collides with teammate Lewis Hamilton during the Belgium Grand Prix in Spa on Sunday and (Inset) Lewis Hamilton. Pics/AFP
Spa: Lewis Hamilton revealed yesterday that he may not be able to trust his Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg in their future on-track duels for the drivers' world title.
Mercedes' Nico Rosberg (right) collides with teammate Lewis Hamilton during the Belgium Grand Prix in Spa on Sunday and (Inset) Lewis Hamilton. Pics/AFP
Hamilton was forced to retire from Sunday's Belgian Grand Prix after suffering a puncture when Rosberg drove into him on the second lap, said he was uncertain how to approach the next race, the Italian Grand Prix at Monza on September 7.
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Done deliberately
He had claimed that Rosberg admitted he had deliberately hit him 'to make a point' in their collision, but the German, who now leads the title race by 29 points, said it was only a racing incident.
"Well, when you're out there you have to trust the people to think with their heads and don't do things deliberately," said Hamilton.
"I don't really know how to approach the next race, but all I know is that I've got to push, I've got a long way to come back from it.
Hamilton and Rosberg have been involved in a series of incidents this season, but none raised the stakes as high, or so dramatically, as Rosberg's decision to hold his line and allow his front wing to clip Hamilton's left rear tyre.
Hamilton said: "I can't imagine what the team would do now. We came into this weekend with a really positive mind-set — I really was excited.
It's interesting because we had that meeting on Thursday and Nico expressed how angry he was (about the Hungarian Grand Prix where Hamilton ignored a team request to allow him to pass).
"I was thinking 'it's been three weeks and you've been lingering?'
"He expressed how angry he was and he literally sat there and said how angry he was at Toto and Paddy.
"But I thought we should be good after that... And then this result? It's interesting..."
Hamilton was clearly pointing to the connection between Rosberg's smouldering mood and his aggressive misjudgement in Sunday's race when he could have lifted and steered his car out of danger.
Instead, Rosberg chose to keep his speed and his line and the team, as well as both drivers, paid the consequences.
C'ship standings
Drivers Pts
Nico Rosberg (GER) 202
Lewis Hamilton (GER) 191
Daniel Ricciardo (AUS) 131
Fernando Alonso (SPAIN) 115
Valtteri Bottas (FINLAND) 95
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