News
24th August 2014, 19:50
Mercedes-Benz's head of motorsport Toto Wolff says the "unacceptable" collision between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at Spa-Francorchamps "cannot - and will not - happen again".
The pair clashed at Les Combes on lap two of the 2014 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix. Rosberg had moved alongside Hamilton down the Kemmel straight, but as the Briton held his line through Les Combes, Rosberg's front wing hit the left rear of Hamilton's car, with the subsequent puncture and damage effectively ending the Briton's race hopes.
Wolff said the accident was a clear transgression of the fundamental rules Mercedes have laid down in an effort to allow the pair to race together without compromising the team's overall objectives.
"Today we saw our worst case scenario when the drivers made contact on lap two - and that ultimately cost us a one-two finish today, because we saw that our car had that kind of performance in it," Wolff said.
"It has been our clear policy to let the drivers race this year but rule number one is: don't hit each other. To see that kind of contact, so early in the race, is an unacceptable level of risk to be taking out on track.
"It cannot - and will not - happen again."
Wolff added it was absolutely imperative for the team to convert their performance dominance into silverware - an objective threatened by the lap two clash.
"Overall, not a good day for the team - and it is clear that we need to strengthen our focus on securing the constructors' championship by delivering the potential of both cars in the next races," he said.
"Now we need to regroup and come back stronger in Monza."
Rosberg said he would need to review the incident properly before being able to apportion blame, but is confident that team harmony will not be ruined.
"I don't have an opinion yet because I haven't seen it on the TV. All I know is that I was faster and I gave it a go," he explained.
"It is always going to be an intense battle, that's clear, it was clear from the onset and there will always be difficult moments and just as we did after Hungary, we had a discussion and moved on.
"I'm sure again we are going to have to discuss today for sure and we'll review it and then we'll move on."
Hamilton meanwhile said he was devastated to retire, insisting he had given Rosberg enough room.
"I'm gutted with the result - not just for my own championship hopes but for the team, as we really should have had a one-two today," he said.
"I didn't fully understand what had happened until I saw the replay just now, but I gave him plenty of space, took the corner like I usually do and suddenly felt a big hit from behind. There was nothing I could do about it and that was effectively my race over.
"What happens next is not my call - that's one for the bosses to make. But I'm now almost 30 points behind in the championship so that's the main thing on my mind. It's a big gap and it will be hard to recover from here."
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The pair clashed at Les Combes on lap two of the 2014 Formula 1 Shell Belgian Grand Prix. Rosberg had moved alongside Hamilton down the Kemmel straight, but as the Briton held his line through Les Combes, Rosberg's front wing hit the left rear of Hamilton's car, with the subsequent puncture and damage effectively ending the Briton's race hopes.
Wolff said the accident was a clear transgression of the fundamental rules Mercedes have laid down in an effort to allow the pair to race together without compromising the team's overall objectives.
"Today we saw our worst case scenario when the drivers made contact on lap two - and that ultimately cost us a one-two finish today, because we saw that our car had that kind of performance in it," Wolff said.
"It has been our clear policy to let the drivers race this year but rule number one is: don't hit each other. To see that kind of contact, so early in the race, is an unacceptable level of risk to be taking out on track.
"It cannot - and will not - happen again."
Wolff added it was absolutely imperative for the team to convert their performance dominance into silverware - an objective threatened by the lap two clash.
"Overall, not a good day for the team - and it is clear that we need to strengthen our focus on securing the constructors' championship by delivering the potential of both cars in the next races," he said.
"Now we need to regroup and come back stronger in Monza."
Rosberg said he would need to review the incident properly before being able to apportion blame, but is confident that team harmony will not be ruined.
"I don't have an opinion yet because I haven't seen it on the TV. All I know is that I was faster and I gave it a go," he explained.
"It is always going to be an intense battle, that's clear, it was clear from the onset and there will always be difficult moments and just as we did after Hungary, we had a discussion and moved on.
"I'm sure again we are going to have to discuss today for sure and we'll review it and then we'll move on."
Hamilton meanwhile said he was devastated to retire, insisting he had given Rosberg enough room.
"I'm gutted with the result - not just for my own championship hopes but for the team, as we really should have had a one-two today," he said.
"I didn't fully understand what had happened until I saw the replay just now, but I gave him plenty of space, took the corner like I usually do and suddenly felt a big hit from behind. There was nothing I could do about it and that was effectively my race over.
"What happens next is not my call - that's one for the bosses to make. But I'm now almost 30 points behind in the championship so that's the main thing on my mind. It's a big gap and it will be hard to recover from here."
For tickets to 2014 FORMULA 1 races, click here (http://redirect.viglink.com?key=11fe087258b6fc0532a5ccfc9 24805c0&u=http%3A%2F%2Ftickets.formula1.com%2F).
For FORMULA 1 merchandise,