Lewis Hamilton says he doesn’t need reminding of Mercedes’ instructions to their drivers not to crash into each other in the Italian GP – the polesitter implying that it’s Nico Rosberg who should take heed.
Hamilton ended his team-mate’s run of four straight poles at Monza on Saturday whilst also securing his first since May’s Spanish GP. But with Rosberg completing an all-Mercedes front row, it’s only natural their dust-up at Spa is focusing attentions on the start of Sunday’s race.
Mercedes team bosses laid down the law in a crisis meeting last week, which ended with Rosberg accepting responsibility for their Belgian GP collision and apologising.
Asked after qualifying whether their harsh words will be at the forefront of his mind when the lights go out, Hamilton pointedly replied: “They won’t be ringing in my ears at all.” For his part, Rosberg said: “It’s not changed. Already before the start of the season the message has been clear so there’s no reason to change. It’s the same as always.”
Mercedes have let their drivers race all season and that much remains the case, even as the title battle between Rosberg, who leads Hamilton by 29 points, heats up.
It may have boiled over two weeks but Toto Wolff, Paddy Lowe and Niki Lauda – who also disciplined Rosberg after he recovered to finish second in Belgium, despite being at fault - have made it clear that another such incident will not be tolerated.
