16/04/2015
NEWS STORY
Nico Rosberg says he has no regrets following his public criticism of his teammate at Shanghai.
While the first signs of Rosberg losing his usual cool became apparent on Saturday afternoon when he moaned at his crew after missing out on pole by just 0.04s. It was the following day that the frustration finally spilled over.
His teammate clearly heading towards his second win of the season and a 17 point lead in the championship, the German accused Hamilton of deliberately slowing and backing him into the clutches of Sebastian Vettel. Complaining to his team, which eventually gave the Briton a gee-up, Rosberg's unhappiness at the situation was apparent at the end of the race when he accused his teammate of being selfish.
Ahead of the fourth round of the season, on a track where the pair fought a thrilling battle twelve months ago, Mercedes is keen to play down talk of a feud, while insisting that it has no intention of issuing team orders.
Speaking to the media in Bahrain today, Rosberg insisted he had no regrets over last week's outburst though he admitted that perhaps it should have happened behind closed doors.
"We discussed it on Sunday evening and everything was clarified and cleared," he said. "The team leaders did a very constructive meeting and from then it was good and on we went."
Asked whether his outburst might have suggested that Hamilton has 'got inside his head', and now has a psychological advantage, the German replied: "Maybe because I am standing here and I have to answer all these questions, but other than that no, I would do it again. I felt the need to state the facts and there was the need to discuss things. I wouldn't do anything differently. And now for me it is a thing of the past."
Looking ahead to this weekend's race, he continued: "I do think I can beat him here. But I also thought that the last two races and it didn't go that way. I am here to try to make it happen, of course. I like the track.
"He is 17 points ahead," he concluded. "That's a fact. I need to get points back as soon as possible. Of course last year he had a run of four wins and then right after that I had the best run of my year for quite a lot of time."
Speaking at the official press conference, Hamilton was unwilling to talk of the matter, insisting that it is "in the past".
"I just do my talking on the track," he said, "that's how it's always been since I was eight years old. Naturally you just try to learn from decisions you take and experiences you have and hope that you get better. All the stuff that comes out of the car I have no particular interest in it."
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