Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton's crash in Austria: What the other Formula 1 drivers thought

After the two Mercedes drivers clashed again in Austria, their peers have their say on the rivalry, the collision - and Nico's penalty...

By

Daniel Ricciardo:  "I know Rosberg had problems but he didn't help himself in Turn One - that looked like a bit of a mistake which gave Lewis an opportunity and he gained so much there. With the incident, I know what Rosberg was trying to do, I just don't think he executed it the way he wanted. To do it how he wanted to do it, he had to be in front.

"It was always going to be hard. With DRS out of Turn Two, Lewis was always going to be favourite in that battle. Maybe Nico knew that. He got the penalty and I'm not against what he did - you try to do something -  but it didn't work and looking back at it I understand the stewards' view.

"As a driver, you know where the limit is. You can squeeze someone a bit but at some point you have to give him some room."

Jenson Button: "Formula 1 needs them to be fighting. There's fighting down the grid but people are interested in the guys fighting for a win. They have to fight and I don't think it's bad publicity for a manufacturer for their drivers collide.

Advertisement

"You think how much publicity they've got around the world for their drivers crashing into each other on the last lap of the race? It's better than finishing one-two, I think. It's a business as well, but we can't move too far away from the sport aspect and the fight out there."

Stoffel Vandoorne: "We saw Nico making a mistake at Turn One and I think that's why Lewis actually got the run on him in Turn Two. Nico tried to defend hard and braked and then didn't really give enough room to Lewis. We've definitely seen some incidents between them and this was a bit more controversial than the other incidents have been.Where they go from here is the big talking point."

Also See:

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collide on the last lap of the Austrian GP giving Hamilton the lead and Rosberg a broken wing

Felipe Massa: "Definitely when you are fighting for the position and someone is trying to pass you, you are trying to do whatever you can to avoid the guy overtaking you. When I saw for the first time what happened in the last race I thought it was maybe a normal thing for the race, like a racing incident.

"But definitely when you watch with the slow motion and you are trying to understand, it was clear Nico was not turning to the corner. Then you have so much talk about the brakes, about this and about that, but definitely he was the one who caused the touch. He didn't lose anything to be penalised (by the stewards), but he was penalised because he was first and it finished fourth. So in a way it was justice."

Sebastian Vettel: "What happened was a racing incident. The fact that it's team-mates is more spectacular but I don't think it's special. It's not the first time we see cars crashing, drivers having an opinion. it's important for the sport and gives everyone something to talk about."

Every race live in 2016

Sky Sports F1 brings you every race live in 2016. Fast and easy online upgrade - click here

Outbrain