Nico Rosberg and Martin Brundle clash over Hamilton-Leclerc incident
Rosberg and Brundle didn't see eye-to-eye on the Ferrari tangle (Photo: Race Pictures)
Updated: 12:04, 07 Sep
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Connor Andrews is Formula 1 and MotoGP writer for GPblog and various outlets. Having worked in motorsport for 15 years for leading companies, he has interviewed the sports biggest names and attended multiple Grands Prix.
Nico Rosberg was left defending former title rival Lewis Hamilton over his first chance collision with Charles Leclerc.
Hamilton started the Italian Grand Prix from sixth, but found himself heading past his Ferrari teammate into Turn 1, only to get back the same treatment with change at Turn 2.
Leclerc sent the seven-time champion into the gravel and down the pecking order, only to then go off track himself a lap later and retire.
However, their exchange was certainly heated, even on team radio, and it divided opinion among Formula 1’s top pundits.
Recalling the exchange, Sky commentator Martin Brundle initially sided with Leclerc.
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The Ferraris went wheel-to-wheel and Hamilton ended in the gravel (Photo: Race Pictures)
Brundle initially sides with Leclerc after Hamilton clash
He explained: “Leclerc was far enough ahead on the inside of the corner there. I don't think Leclerc would have taken a penalty, which is rather incidental now, of course.
"Lewis dived down the inside of him into the first apex - fair enough. That's motor racing. Then goes to the outside, which was bold. Leclerc, I think, was ahead at the apex. He was far enough ahead. And on the inside, which is another key element.”
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"If Charles had more command over his front, you can say he should have left his teammate room. I suspect he was pretty underwhelmed with what happened on the way into the first corner.”
However, when the dust had settled, 2016 champion Rosberg gave a simple take on the incident, which completely contradicted Brundle.
Rosberg read the rule book to Brundle (Photo: Race Pictures)
Rosberg delivers ‘100 per cent’ verdict on Leclerc
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"That's an easy one,” he said. “The rules are: if the driver on the outside - which, in this case, is Lewis - is ahead at some point towards the apex, then the inside must leave room.
“It's very straightforward and simple. Lewis was ahead going in, so Charles had to leave room, and he didn't. So it's 100 per cent Charles' fault. The rule is very clear. It is written in black and white. I can tell you which page - page 11.”
To make matters slightly awkward, Brundle was standing alongside as Rosberg disagreed with him and admitted he called things the other way live.
Rosberg challenges Brundle over live Monza verdict
The German pundit jokingly responded: "No way! Martin, I thought you knew what you were talking about usually!”
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However, the pair did find some middle ground, agreeing that Hamilton’s bold move into the chicane may have prompted Leclerc’s aggressive response at the exit.
Rosberg does concede Hamilton was ‘too aggressive’
"I think that Charles had the inside line. He was far enough ahead,” Brundle said. “My call is that I think he was a bit upset with what happened on the way into the first corner.”
Rosberg finished: “That’s true. Lewis was too aggressive."
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