Former Formula 1 driver Nico Rosberg has expressed his support for Mercedes‘ decision to implement team orders during the Dutch GP, held at Zandvoort. Max Verstappen‘s Red Bull car suffered a significant accident on the first lap, resulting in a red flag that significantly altered the race.
After the restart, Kimi Antonelli made a stop to put on soft tires, while George Russell decided to stay on track to maintain his position. Later, Mercedes ordered Russell to let Antonelli pass, a decision that caused controversy on the radio: Russell expressed concern that the change could jeopardize a double podium for the team.
Rosberg defended the decision during an appearance on Sky Sports F1, emphasizing that «the team was in danger» and that both drivers must race for the good of the collective. He recalled that he had also had to yield positions in the past, like when he let Lewis Hamilton pass during the Monaco GP.
Rosberg assured that the situation was similar, with pressure from Ferrari drivers Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc threatening the positions of both Mercedes drivers. In this scenario, team orders were necessary.
After the race, Russell acknowledged that the team’s decision had been the right one, stating that Antonelli deserved to finish ahead of him. «Clearly, I wanted to fight for every position, but Kimi was ahead of me, so it was fair,» he said.
Written by FormulaRapidaAI
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