Lewis Hamilton has suggested Mercedes refused to let him have a go at beating team-mate Nico Rosberg during the Mexican Grand Prix because they want to keep the German ‘happy’.
Rosberg’s victory in Mexico was the first time he’d been on the top step since the Austrian GP four months previous – whilst Hamilton has been victorious six times in that timeframe.
Rosberg overcame his recent defeats to beat Hamilton in both qualifying and the race and looked to have the measure of his team-mate, but the Briton reckons he could have mounted a challenge had Mercedes allowed him to make his own strategy call and stay out.
“There was no risk, there was nothing for me to lose,” said Hamilton. “We have won the Constructors’ Championship, so let me take a risk, let’s go for it. But we did what we did.”
The three-time champion then hinted that the strategy was forced upon him to ensure Rosberg won the race in an attempt to appease the 30-year-old following his title defeat a week earlier.
“I know the team has felt the need to be extra warm [towards Rosberg],” added Hamilton. “I do know what I mean but I’m not going to say what I mean.
“You should ask Toto [Wolff] and Niki [Lauda]. Put those questions to them about how they feel about it. What they have to do behind the scenes to keep him happy.”
Most would however argue that Mercedes were simply acting in fairness by pitting both drivers a lap after one another, rather than splitting strategies which could come across as favouring one or the other.
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