Drivers criticise Rosberg after Shanghai moan

Nico Rosberg is not backing down after accusing his teammate Lewis Hamilton of driving too slowly en route to victory at the Chinese Grand Prix last time out.

“I said what I felt,” the German told Sky, “but I really have put Shanghai behind me now.”

Two former F1 drivers, however, say the Mercedes driver was unwise to have criticised Hamilton for his driving tactics.

“I’ve never heard anything like it,” said Marc Surer, now a television pundit, told the German broadcaster Sky.

“A driver complaining that another driver is driving too slowly in front of him is ridiculous and does himself and formula one no favours,” he added.

“I think he is frustrated and angry, but if you don’t even try to overtake, you can’t win the race,” said Surer.

Jochen Mass, meanwhile, told the Kolner Express newspaper that Rosberg’s post-race comments were “outrageous”.

“And even if he (Hamilton) did slow him on purpose, I would shut up and try to pass him next time. I would advise him to give his responses through his driving,” he added.

Finally, Hamilton’s former teammate Jenson Button said Rosberg will now learn that criticising the 30-year-old publicly is not the best tactic.

“Talking in the press about something you are unhappy about only makes Lewis stronger,” he is quoted by the Mirror.

“You can only rattle him by beating him, and for every race Lewis wins it is going to get worse (for Rosberg),” Button added.

“Nico is unhappy and has a right to be, but where can you point the finger? Lewis winning eight out of ten to Nico’s one, that’s big.”