As Mercedes issued a statement following its investigation into events at Spa, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton issued their own comments.

Taking to Facebook, Nico Rosberg wrote:

"In the days since the Belgian Grand Prix in Spa, I have spent a lot of time thinking about what happened during the race and discussing it with the team.

"I have already expressed my regret about the incident but, after meeting with Toto, Paddy and Lewis today, I wish to go a step further and describe it as an error of judgement on my part.

"The number one rule for us as team-mates is that we must not collide but that is exactly what happened.

"For that error of judgement, I apologise to Lewis and the team. I also want to say sorry to the fans who were deprived of our battle for the lead in Belgium.

"Lewis and I have been given clear instructions about how we race each other.

"As drivers, we have a clear responsibility to the team, the fans of the sport, our partners and Mercedes-Benz to deliver clean racing. We take that responsibility very seriously.

"I look forward to concluding the season with hard, fair competition on and off track right up to the final lap of the season in Abu Dhabi."

Whilst Lewis Hamilton used his website to issue the following:

"Today we came together as a team and discussed our differences. Nico and I accept that we have both made mistakes and I feel it would be wrong to point fingers and say which one is worse than the other. What’s important is how we rise as a team from these situations. We win and we lose together and, as a team, we will emerge stronger.

"There is a deep foundation that still exists for me and Nico to work from, in spite of our difficult times and differences. We have the greatest team, the strongest group of individuals who have worked their hands to the bone to give us the best car you see us racing today. It’s important that we never forget that and give them the results they deserve. Today, Toto and Paddy told us clearly how we must race against each other from now on in a fair and respectful manner.

"The fans want to see a clean fight until the end of the season and that’s what we want to give them. It’s going to be a tough road from here but Championships have been won from much further back than I am now. And I promise you that I will be giving everything and more to win this for my team, for my family and for my fans."

LATEST NEWS

more news >

LATEST IMAGES

galleries >

Click to go to the main galleries section

READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Martin B, 31/08/2014 17:38

"The cynic in me says that neither one of them wrote these words, it would be nice if I could believe they had done so. I do applaud Mercedes for still TRYING to give the fans what they pay hard-earned cash for and want to see and I hope they will continue to do so. I really don't want to see any more negativity about this, just a good tough fight to the end of the season, and may the best driver win!"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

2. Posted by JackTheCat, 30/08/2014 9:57

"All those criticising either driver for 'caving in and being too corporate' in these comment sections make me laugh.

You try having a contract in your pocket that pays you at least 10 million a year and then decide to jeopardise it by not doing as your bosses tell you.... then you can criticise!"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

3. Posted by MrShadow, 30/08/2014 9:13

"From a Mercedes point of view, after being 2 seconds fasten in qualifying the result is a clear defeat. If Nico would have compromsed the corner by opening up, he may have gotten stuck a few laps behind the competition, but the result would have been a one-two for Mercedes.
Toto and Miki will have delviered a nice speech on how their internal fight may be important, but should never go at cost of the team result. After all as Niki learned from the great Enzo, the team is more important as any driver.

I hope someone will ask Nico if he is still happy that he extended his contract."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

4. Posted by scf1fan, 29/08/2014 21:42

"A somewhat expected response . . . but then it should have never have gotten this far anyway. The 'clashes' between Prost and Senna, Schumacher and others were much more intentional and also dangerous considering the integrity of the cars. Perhaps a lot of this is the 'fault' or our current infatuation with making people 'social media' stars; the constant back and forth, our 'expectations' for something 'juicy' to be said, the constant escalation of prose and tempers.

We could all do without that IMHO; drivers, you are there to race gentlemen, just do it! I'd rather see you bumping and barging each other off the track than what their latest 'tweet' was . . . But I'd rather see you respond with your feet and your hands; your vision, strategy and skills! Remember that the adage 'to finish first you must first finish' is still true. Whether you feel you 'own' the corner or not is irrelevant if the result compromises your car. Make your point by being first across the line! Remember that there are hundreds of people working behind you with all their hearts and souls to give you the opportunity to compete at the front of the pack. No one hears their tweets, or waits with baited breaths for their Facebook posts. (Yet you cost them bonus money when you fail to get the most out of the car that it has to offers that day.)

Racing for the same team adds one more order of difficulty to the situation, but the objectives remain the same; you have to do all that you can to finish the race! As team mates, you have the added responsibility to try to insure that your team mate can do the same; or at least not make it any more difficult. That doesn't preclude hard racing, but it does preclude taking unnecessary risks. (But that is true up and down the field!)

This has been a pretty exciting season all in all; it would be phenomenal if Renault and Ferrari had a slightly better 'power unit.' (If they were all jostling for the lead . . . seemingly, running into cars from other teams' isn't quite as frowned upon. :-) So it's time for the other adage . . . "When the green flag drops . . . " Time to race!"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

5. Posted by kiwi2wheels, 29/08/2014 19:29

"Truly nauseating PC corporate BS of the type that used to be the exclusive domain of the obnoxious Ron Dennis.

Have to say I am a little dissappointed in NR, can you imagine James Hunt saying that................He would probably have punched the " celeb " in the mouth !

I remember an article penned by Geoff Brabham, published in " On Track " ( US , Feb/Mar, 1999 ) titled " Why Corporations Shouldn't Go Motor Racing. "

Sadly nothing's changed."

Rating: Negative (-2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

6. Posted by Tommy Tipper, 29/08/2014 17:53

"A corporate response - simple as that"

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

7. Posted by my tyres are going off, 29/08/2014 17:49

"Love the image of Nico on the merc naughty step. Problem is he still has the points and the reputation that comes with them. "

Rating: Neutral (0) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

8. Posted by nonickname, 29/08/2014 16:46

"What a mess. Nico, do what daddy did. Carefully take the points home after each race and become world champion. You deserve it.You are one of the few that could run with Micheal in the same car. When you take the title LEAVE. There are many teams (especially the one getting the Honda motor,who shall remain nameless) that would love to have you on board.
Lewis, you have had your day. You are better off as a rapper....or perhaps a new Kardashian husband."

Rating: Positive (1) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

9. Posted by miss d'it, 29/08/2014 16:31

"Reading between the lines
Nico is shocked that the team made him 'sit it out on the naughty step for days' after being petulant
Whilst Lewis has been spoken to by Niki and begged to stay

Who will be there next year ? Drivers champion or not.
Monza will be very very interesting"

Rating: Positive (2) Rate comment: Positive | NegativeReport this comment

Mercedes drivers react following team talk

LATEST NEWS

RELATED ARTICLES

LATEST IMAGES

POST A COMMENT

Post your comment

READERS COMMENTS

Share this page