It's fair to say that Nico Rosberg looked very much a broken man following yesterday's United States Grand Prix.

Whilst Lewis Hamilton soaked up the adulation and the Champagne on the podium, Rosberg - to use a Scottish expression - "had a face that was tripping him".

Of course, it was an unexplained error that caused the German to lose his lead in the final stages of the race, that and a couple of safety car periods - the motorised version and the virtual. However what clearly rankled the Mercedes driver was the incident at the first corner, when Hamilton not only appeared to move over on the German, forcing him to run off track and lose positions, but gave him a little punt to help him on his way.

Other than Rosberg's miserable mug on the Austin podium, many were astonished to see an incident in the ante-room before the drivers stepped on to the podium.

Rosberg is seen to throw his podium cap at his teammate, who had previously thrown it to him. Some have claimed that the initial move was a deliberate snub by the British driver who had just won his tenth race of the season and his third title, tossing the gap marked '2nd' to Rosberg.

Whatever, the likeable German wasn't happy, and whilst mystified by his own mistake that cost him the race, was also highly critical of his teammate's actions in T1.

"Turn One for sure was very aggressive," said Rosberg. "It was extremely aggressive, we hit each other, or I would say Lewis came into me, so obviously that's not good. I can't say more than that."

"I didn't try and push him out, it wasn't intentional," insisted Hamilton. "I don't feel like I was aggressive. At the end of the day I was on the inside so it was actually my line."

Aware of how the situation could develop, Mercedes, which has encouraged its drivers to race one another, has admitted that it will keep an eye on things lest they develop.

"It is a crucial moment now to make sure today's race and this incident don't release consequences within the team and split the two sides of the garage," admitted Toto Wolff.

"If we don't take any action it has the potential to be like Spa," he added, referring to the incident at the start of last year's Belgian Grand Prix when Rosberg ran Hamilton wide at Les combes.

"We have some experience and we just need to have a calm approach and a firm approach of how we would like them to compete," he continued."

Referring to the podium petulance, he added: "They are enemies in the same team and it is clear that we cannot expect him to cheer up in such a situation."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by BWesty, 29/10/2015 6:01

"@Baz rat...
If being a good sportsman is considered a serious problem... then you are 100% right, I do have a problem... and if my concern about the lack of competitiveness between the teams in the last two years is a problem, then yes again, I also have a serious problem there... but the truth is I am not a fan of either spoilt brats getting their way or a one-sided competition... so I guess I'll be booking a session with my therapist immediately...that's based on your professional opinion of course...:). god forbid this world becomes a place where sportsmen behave appropriately win or lose. "

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2. Posted by Spindoctor, 28/10/2015 12:32

"I'm afraid that "likeable" is not an epithet I'd apply to Nico. He can, however, be charming when he feels it appropriate\useful.

Despite the various dog-in-the-manger posts hereabouts, the faster and therefore logically "better" driver won, both the race and the Championship. We can all argue about THAT move 'til the cows come home, and probably long after they've been sent to the knacker's yard, but Lewis was on the inside, was slightly ahead, and had the line. Nico chose to complete a manoeuvre that was likely only to leave him stranded and\or damage both cars. It was definitely "aggressive" by Hamilton, but Nico was hardly meekness personified.

That's the stuff of Racing. A cursory look at of most of the other non-DRS overtakes in that (and most other) races would suggest that a bit of aggression is required to get the job done. The skill which differentiates great drivers from the merely good is that they are usually able to fine-tune the aggression, correctly evaluate the risk; emerge in front, and unscathed.
Ricciardo & Verstappen are generally hailed as exemplars of "hard but fair" overtaking. If you compare Hamilton's move on Rosberg with any number of their efforts in the race, or throughout the season it looks pretty tame....

To my eyes Nico's response is sour grapes from someone whose privileged background makes him feel entitled to success. Irrespective of anything else he lost that race all on his own whilst quite a long way ahead. Perhaps he was so busy feeling aggrieved that Hamilton had the temerity to pass him on lap 1 that he lost concentration?"

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3. Posted by nonickname, 28/10/2015 9:57

"Hi Baz rat,
many thaks for your post. We are in serious need of comedy on this site so please keep sending."

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4. Posted by Bazrat, 28/10/2015 8:24

" karel you say 2 lewis's titles have no value so none of seb's have none because he had the best car with dubious aero package,Will Fly nothing to do with fair play by nico he do's not want to finish third behind Seb and give ferrari a boost.
CDHracer your comments are confusing to say the least Lewis who is fighting for the title must give way to the driver on pole,i take it you don't watch must racing because there is not a driver in the world who would do such a thing.
nonickname your comments are childish in the extreme.
BWesty man you have serious problems.
C5 than explaining to the team and the workers back at base why he did it than handing in his notice because they would never trust him again.
DJ completly agree must be a team managers ego thinking they can control them.
Tweek i take it you don't know what multi 21 was it was a agreement between the team and the drivers which Seb broke,please explain what agreement that Lewis broke.

"

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5. Posted by Will Fly, 28/10/2015 7:40

"I'm very surprised it didn't occur to Nico to 'lift' or 'run wide' and enable Vettel to pass, thus spoiling Hamiltons day. I guess it goes to show that Nico is a 'professional' driver and a 'fair player' unlike Hamilton, who is more like Dick Dastardly."

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6. Posted by karel, 28/10/2015 6:44

"For me todays racing is not attractive, when you compare with MotoGP for instance. For me Lewis Hamilton may have 3 titles, but at least 2 of them have no value, not when you compare them with Senna, Prost, ... .
Rosberg could have been much more agressive as an answer to the attack of Hamilton, you know you're fighting with someby with no code. But overall another very weak year in F1 and no signs for improvement."

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7. Posted by CDHracer, 27/10/2015 18:44

"I for one doubt that in the case of the Mercedes driver issue there is a conspiracy, to me and I guess I'm old school, Hamilton should have given the right of way to Rosberg, if for no other reason out of respect for Rosberg taking the pole. There would have been plenty of time for the two to have raced for the lead after that first turn. Add to the fact that Hamilton forcing Rosberg wide could have taken both Mercedes Works cars out. The replay showed they did make slight contact and in racing in open wheel cars it's doesn't take much contact to cause a major incident. "

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8. Posted by nonickname, 27/10/2015 16:32

"No there are 3 of us and I think BWesty would make 4. Strange how petulant he sounded when Rosberg was running away with the race. I am afraid I feel he is the least impressive F1 champ ever. It is sad to think he is equaling Sir Jackie Steward, Nikki Lauda,Arton Senna and close to Alain Prost as there is no comparison in any area.Remember he is the one who forgot to wear shoes to the Queens box...sigh this one will be deleted by the moderator."

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9. Posted by C5, 27/10/2015 16:17

"@Darvi

:-)

Nothing like an exclusive club I guess..."

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10. Posted by BWesty, 27/10/2015 12:15

"well done Lewis, firstly for winning the championship, or should I say the 2nd instalment of a two car championship...seriously... and well done on showing us what a terrible winner you are... I'd love to see your reaction if someone threw you the No2 cup after beating you in a race... even better, after they forced you off the track and then beat you... me thinks the reaction would be a little more vocal. well done Nico for keeping your cool... lets hope that next year will be a little more competitive..."

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11. Posted by Darvi, 27/10/2015 10:01

"C5 - Yes, I think you were in a group of two, you and Vettel."

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12. Posted by C5, 27/10/2015 0:03

"Am I the only one who sat hoping that Rosberg would briefly hit the brakes at the last corner and let Vettel pass, just to spoil Hamilton's little party?"

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13. Posted by stoney, 26/10/2015 22:55

"Thank you for actually acknowledging that Hamilton threw the cap to Rosberg first, which he returned. The first move was pretty insensitive at best, at worst pretty damn rude. Rosberg's now having a slamming in the media for something completely appropriate considering what preceeded it. What was his other options?"

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14. Posted by nonickname, 26/10/2015 20:55

"Here is a Conspiracy Theory... how about if Nico could get a full check on all his telemetry for the season and see if things 'changed' on track when he was experiencing 'bad luck'.. Evil though isn't it. We all know major manufacturers would never do anything naughty so...it is no more than a theory ??"

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15. Posted by DJ, 26/10/2015 17:57

"In the last 10 years, two top drivers on the same team has never worked out......why do they keep trying to make it work?"

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