Nico Rosberg, former Mercedes Formula 1 driver, has defended the team’s decision to apply team orders during the recent Dutch Grand Prix held in Zandvoort. This controversy took place after an initial chaos when Max Verstappen, Red Bull driver, suffered a considerable crash that caused a red flag.
After the restart and during a late virtual safety car, Kimi Antonelli chose to pit for soft tires, while George Russell preferred to maintain his position on the track. Ultimately, Mercedes ordered Russell to give way to Antonelli, a decision that sparked debate among fans and the media.
Russell expressed his concern to the team, warning that the move could compromise the possibility of a double podium. Despite his efforts to fend off attacks from Ferrari, he managed to stay in third place.
Rosberg, speaking to Sky Sports F1, explained that team decisions are necessary when the team’s record position is at risk. “The situation was similar to my experience, where I also had to let Lewis pass in Monaco, even though we were battling for the championship,” Rosberg commented.
Moreover, he acknowledged the difficulty of the team order decision and stated that if he were in Russell’s position, he would feel disadvantaged by having to accept it. However, he considered that the team rules were followed correctly.
After the race, Russell admitted that the decision had been correct and that Antonelli deserved to finish ahead of him. “In racing, everyone wants to fight for every position,” Russell concluded.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
