Whilst Mercedes tries to keep a lid on its driver spat, Nico Rosberg admits "regret" but insists Spa clash was a "racing incident".

Not for the first time, the beautiful, usually tranquil Ardennes witnessed all-out war, though this time around it was F1 cars as opposed to tanks.

Its post-race meeting resolving nothing, indeed seemingly adding further fuel to the fire, Mercedes has opted to allow its drivers a couple of days in which to cool off as the German team attempts to quell what is rapidly turning into a PR disaster... after all, at some point a decision will need to be made which is going to seriously annoy at least one of its drivers and his fans.

An official post-race video from Rosberg tells us nothing, the German doing what he did for much of the weekend, saying he preferred to keep opinions and thoughts within the team, behind closed doors.

However, writing on his Facebook page, the world championship leader admis... "That was a tough race.

"We had the pace to win today but the incident cost us a top result," he continues, "so I'm really disappointed because for the team it was a bad day.

"As drivers, we are here to entertain and to show the fans a good time, so our duels are always on the limit.

"I regret that Lewis and myself touched," he admits, "but I see it as a racing incident - just as the stewards did. I was quicker down the straight and went to the outside as the inside line was blocked. I gave it a go and, after we touched, I realized that my front wing was damaged and thought that was it. In the next second I saw that Lewis also had a problem, which was very unfortunate for him and for the team.

"We sat down quickly after the race but there will be some more meetings to be held in to avoid races like today."

Elsewhere, Hamilton, who has said that at the post-race meeting Rosberg admitted deliberately hitting him in order to make a point, a claim that Toto Wolff denies, saying the German driver's comment has been misinterpreted, insists that his teammate went into the weekend still seething from what happened in Hungary.

"It's interesting because we had that meeting on Thursday and Nico expressed how angry he was," said the Briton, according to Reuters. "I was thinking 'It's been three weeks and you've been lingering (on it)?!'

"He expressed how angry he was, he literally sat there and said how angry he was at Toto and Paddy. But I thought we should be good after that and then this result... it's interesting."

The Briton also suggested that Rosberg could not be trusted, even though the German does not have history of recklessness.

"When you're out there you have to trust people to think with their heads and not do things deliberately," said Hamilton. "But after that meeting I don't really know how to approach the next race. I'll have to make sure we're not wheel-to-wheel."

As for the official team video from Rosberg...

Chris Balfe

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Robert, 29/08/2014 8:24

"To all the Nico fans or anti-Lewis supportors:

I would say, it's not even about supporting Lewis or supporting Nico, but I think everyone should just weigh up all the obvious evidence!
The obvious ones are that both Toto Wolff and Niki Lauda blamed Nico and were extremely anger! And most fair top drivers including Jenson Button put the blame on Nico! So we know these kind of biased so called 'journalists' will write any rubbish just cause a stirl!
Anyhow, I have been watching the video of the Belgium collision over and over, and clearly Nico never had even half a car length next to Lewis's car at any point, and not only should Nico had aborted the move, he also didn't need to cut back so quickly and so hard behind Lewis to make that corner! I don't know what everyone else is watching, but to me, Nico's second turn-in of his steering was deliberately more harder, earlier, and 'more deliberate' than necessary! In my opinion, Nico did it on purpose knowing that it was likely Lewis would have a puncture, which is obviously worst than losing a piece of end-plate on his own front wing!
The truth of the matter is, and Lewis heard it from the horse's mouth which was 'confirmed' by a Mercedes 'spokesman', Nico 'did on purpose' 'to prove a point'! Nico gambled because he was already 11 points in front of Lewis, and he won his gamble! As one steward said, it's was a 'cunning' drive/move (you would expect from a ruthless driver, or what I would call unsporting or 'cheating')!
And honestly, I don't know how the steward can even call a 10 second review of the Belgium collision to be a fair review because we're talking about title contenders, not Alonso and Magnussen or someone else down the field, and also it's very high stakes now, as we are closing nearer to the conclusion of the Championship!!!
I hope the stewards at all future races will take this more seriously, I really do, because in my opinion, if the ones at Belgium did their jobs 'more thoroughly', then none of us now would feel the results there were as 'unfair' as it was!?"

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 27/08/2014 14:02

"kiwi2wheels - I don't think Lewis is suggesting that Rosberg crashed into him "because he's black", but because Nico's an inferior driver who can't beat him fair & square!

As to the disposition of glasses, I suggest you check out the beam in your own eye before alluding to the mote in theirs...."

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3. Posted by nonickname, 27/08/2014 12:17

"Hi Jack the spelling teacher,
srry, my irritation got yhe btter of my typing speed."

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4. Posted by Steve W, 27/08/2014 6:56

"I call it a racing incident. Rosberg tried a move which didn't quite come off. It happens all the time. Hamilton knew what was going on and he could have left just a bit more room there. It would have been a bit sloppy for both but they would have made it - until the next corner anyway...

These next races are going to be extremely interesting."

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5. Posted by kiwi2wheels, 26/08/2014 16:40

"I'm waiting for the " I wanna be celebrity " brat to come out with another " It's because I is black " whine...........

Mercedes should insist that Lauda and Wolff get glasses............it was obvious from the onboard footage that NR backed off , then the brat jinked left into the endplate.

I bet Massa is quietly chuckling !

"

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6. Posted by JackTheCat, 26/08/2014 16:28

"Nonickname, how can we take anything seriously from someone who spells the statistically greatest driver in F1's name as Schumaker.... truly pathetic!!!!!!"

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7. Posted by GrahamG, 26/08/2014 15:34

"Is anyone else getting fed up with the "Saint Lewis" thing. He has driven more people off the track in the past few years than anyone else and has sought to put himself up as the "big boy" nobody dares challenge. We all know what happens to bullies in the end and I for one am glad there's someone willing to put him in his place. Typical of his spoiled brat attitude - want to bet he'll go running to Ron Dennis next year....and get beaten by Kevin Magnusson?"

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8. Posted by Kennys, 26/08/2014 14:05

"I might suggest to Hamilton that he is a professional motor car racer and should act as so, no as a spoilt little "brat" who cannot get his way. Shrug this of Lewis, it happens and if you can't accept this race pedal cars"

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9. Posted by nonickname, 26/08/2014 11:02

"I think that Hamilton has learned a lesson. He has always acted like a spoiled brat and expects all the divers to give him respect...he has not, and never will get that. Why should Rosberg always play second fiddle to some one who, on an on going basis ignores team orders knowing full well that he will get support from Lauda?
I am glad that he finally understands he is not a Schumaker or a Senna. I would love to see him bump heads with Alonso or Riccardo in the same car.He would learn the lesson of a lifetime.
The loser here is Mercedes. They race to win and take both first and second places.That is what needs to be sorted out. I don't think the their board is going to be impressed by what has happened and Mr Wolf is in a very hot sear. What do I recommend. Team orders saying that who ever is in the world championship lead is covered by the other driver. So Rosberg has a lead...2 retirements or bad races and Hamilton will be the leader. Not motor racing but neither is formula 1 (yes in lower case)"

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10. Posted by Podge, 26/08/2014 8:06

"Karel, questioning whether a champion should show frustration is a bit of a daft comment since some of our most recent champions have included Vettel and Alonso."

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11. Posted by karel, 26/08/2014 5:55

"Indeed it was and that's final, Rosberg had a great race, likewise propably Hamilton would have done just the same. The outcome was unfortunate but that's racing. the reaction of Hamilton is pure frustration, what can be understand, but is that how champions behave ?"

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12. Posted by stackvideo, 25/08/2014 22:13

"Get over it! This is motor racing. Shit happens. What would have been said if the cars were in reverse order."

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13. Posted by JackTheCat, 25/08/2014 20:29

"There is some right nonsense being posted in these comments sections. Sure Hamilton can moan and whinge with the best of them, but that incident was 100% not his fault and trying to pretend otherwise is pathetic frankly!

I actually think he has been fairly good at handling all the bad stuff that has come his way this season, imagine how Mansell would have been LOL!"

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14. Posted by MrShadow, 25/08/2014 19:25

"As I mentioned the same move was shown many times by other drivers without ending in tears or contact.
The difference was without exception that the others were there to get the best result for themsleves, not to ruin the other drivers race.
Lewis knew Nico was there, he can not deny that. To then not give half a car space is directly obstructing your opponent, as the only option Nico had would be going off track and losing much more than just time.
Nico could have opted to do just that, but just like the patience of Prost wore out, so did Nico's.
The result will be more drama, hopefully new team orders will not lead to a repetition of the Pironi-Villeneuve situation."

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15. Posted by Robert, 25/08/2014 18:44

"To the two previous commentators:

Yes! Lewis had the corner and was almost a full car length ahead of Nico and so he had the right to take the racing line, and Nico was ABSOLUTELY at fault! Wolff and Lauda knows that!

The stewards looked at it during the race and quickly thought it was just an accident not knowing what they 'know' now, which is that Nico 'intentionally' turned into Lewis and not try to avoid the collision (see Sky Tv's slow motion video clip)!

So No! Lewis, as a sporting racer, will not think twice next time, and he will race exactly the same way since he was absolutely NOT at fault! However, now that the stewards and FIA are aware of Nico's intentions and unsporting behavour, they will look more closely at any collisions that Nico makes in the future and will no longer give him the benefit of the doubt (which will also include any 'deliberate' incidents during qualifying too)!

This is 2014, and we now have more rules and regulations for sporting behaviour, as well as for safety! The next time Nico causes this kind of collision, he could be BANNED by the FIA for the rest of the season, or at least be severely punished for the race, and/or the next race!!!
"

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Rosberg: It was a "racing incident"

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