Nico Rosberg has weighed in on the team orders controversy that unfolded in the Mercedes garage during the Dutch Grand Prix. The 2016 Formula 1 World Champion believes Brackley's decision to ask George Russell to let Kimi Antonelli through was the right call.
The race at Zandvoort was thrown into chaos on the opening lap when Max Verstappen suffered a massive crash, prompting a red flag. After the restart, a late virtual safety car added more drama. Antonelli pitted for soft tyres, while Russell stayed out to maintain track position.
That strategic split forced Mercedes into a difficult decision. They ultimately ordered Russell to yield to his teammate. Russell argued over the radio that the move risked throwing away a double podium, but he managed to fend off the charging Ferraris of Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc to hold onto third.
Speaking on Sky Sports F1, Rosberg defended the pitwall's choice. "The team is under threat, and the two drivers have to drive for the team. In my time, I also had to let Lewis past once in Monaco, even though we were fighting for the championship," the German explained.
Rosberg added that the decision made sense because Russell was expected to struggle with pace, and if he stayed ahead of Antonelli, the Ferraris could have threatened both positions. "So it really risks both positions at the same time. It's a tough one, it's really a horrible decision to make. If I was in George's place, it would hurt so much," he said.
Interestingly, Russell later admitted the team's decision was correct. "Kimi was ahead of me anyway, so he deserved to finish ahead. Of course, when you're in the race, you want to fight for every single position," he said after the race.
Read Also
Lando Norris merespons peluang juara F1 2026 usai kemenangan keduanya di Zandvoort. Ia memilih fokus satu balapan demi satu balapan.
Toto Wolff menjelaskan team order Mercedes di GP Belanda yang menguntungkan Antonelli. Russell diminta memberi jalan setelah VSC. Ini bukan soal hierarki, tapi aturan tim.
George Russell mengejutkan dengan mendukung keputusan tim Mercedes yang memintanya memberi jalan ke Kimi Antonelli di GP Belanda, meski sempat protes. Analisis strategi dan dampaknya.
Continue with Google
Discussion (0)
Join the Discussion!
Sign in easily to start commenting, replying, and interacting with other readers.
Latest Comments
No comments yet. Be the first!