Hungary Grand Prix reaction: Nico Rosberg qualifying move criticised by Lewis Hamilton
Mercedes colleagues at odds over Rosberg's slowing down following a Fernando Alonso accident
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Your support makes all the difference.Race winner Lewis Hamilton hit out at Mercedes tream-mate Nico Rosberg over the German's slowing down under yellow flags on his qualifying pole lap on Saturday.
The defending champion called for the rule to be made more clearer, claiming the German failed to slow by more than one-tenth of a second following Fernando Alonso's accident.
“In my 23 years of racing you slow down if it's double yellows and be prepared to stop," Hamilton said in the post-race press conference. "You slow by two-tenths or half a second if it's double yellows."
The Briton felt drivers would slow down to a similar extent if the same scenario happened in next weekend's Germany GP, based on events in Hungary.
Rosberg playfully slapped his colleague on the back after hearing Hamilton's comments, sarcastically saying “thank you for making that statement.
“I went 20kms slower into that corner. That's a different world in an F1 car - you are going proper slow. The stewards said it was completely acceptable. And on a drying track you are going to go so much quicker.”
Hamilton's victory in Budapest took him to the top of the driver's standings, six points clear of Rosberg. Both have five race wins.
Elsewhere, Kimi Raikkonen spoke of his surprise at the lack of steward action over Max Verstappen during the pair's battle for fifth palce. The Ferrari driver accused Red Bull's Verstappen of defending too strongly as the pair came together on the 57th lap.
"He moved right and then back to left when I was going there and took my f****** front wing off!" Raikkonen exclaimed over team radio, after losing part of his front wing when he was struck by the rear of Verstappen’s car. Further passing attempts were also dealt with strongly by the Dutchman.
“It’s not my decision to decide if it was correct or not, but I’ve seen people penalised for much less," Raikkonen said afterwards. “I’m disappointed because I couldn’t get past him. But the car was behaving well, I had good speed, but it’s not the easiest place to get past.”
Verstappen defended his actions: “I only moved once. It would be very strange if I get penalised. I could see him coming so he was very optimistic to dive up the inside. He locked up and hit the rear of my car, which can happen.”
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