Rosberg agrees with Ferrari but sympathises with Leclerc

Former world champion Nico Rosberg has explained why Ferrari were right in its team orders to allow Sebastian Vettel past Charles Leclerc, but he still has sympathy with the 21-year-old driver.

Leclerc started the better out of the Ferraris and raced ahead of his team-mate right at the beginning of the race. However, like Scuderia have done already a couple of times this season, they ordered Leclerc to back off Vettel and let him through.

According to Rosberg, who nowadays is a pundit for Sky Sports F1, Ferrari did the correct thing by allowing Vettel to pass the young driver. 

"It was clear they had to try something," Rosberg said on air for Sky Sports F1. "At first it seemed that Sebastian was much faster. So, it was the right thing that Ferrari tried it."

Despite this, the one-time Formula 1 world champion believes perhaps Ferrari should've allowed Leclerc in front for a bit longer, as he is left wondering what would have happened if the 21-year-old was in front for a little longer.

"I don't know what would have happened," Rosberg admitted. "Maybe he could have shown that he was faster, because Leclerc had a very strong pace. I sympathise with Charles."