Hamilton slowed to let rivals close in on title-opponent
Wednesday 30 November 2016 09:13, UK
Nico Rosberg says he can understand why Lewis Hamilton backed him into Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen in the closing stages of the Abu Dhabi GP.
The Mercedes team-mates were battling over the Drivers' Championship at the season finale, with Hamilton needing to win the race with Rosberg finishing fourth or lower.
Hamilton slowed from the lead of the race in an effort to let other drivers challenge second-placed Rosberg in the closing laps and ignored repeated messages from the team telling him not to do so.
"I can also understand Lewis because we are drivers, we are fighters until the last metre and it was about the world championship so he decided to try everything he could out there," Rosberg said.
"In a way it is also understandable even if it was very, very tough as a result and it is something I don't think needs to be discussed much."
Asked about repercussions for Hamilton for ignoring team orders, Mercedes boss Toto Wolff was non-committal.
"I can understand why he drove like he drove, that was his instinct. Equally our system has made them both win many races and created this era of dominance," said the Austrian.
"But again, let's discuss it at a later stage, today it is only about Nico."
Don't miss the F1 Report's review of the Abu Dhabi GP and analysis of how the world title was won. David Croft and Marc Priestley join Natalie Pinkham at 8.30pm on Wednesday on Sky Sports F1.
