Villeneuve: Nico Rosberg’s ‘killer’ move 100 per cent to blame for crash with Lewis Hamilton
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Updated 20/05/2016 at 15:54 GMT
Jacques Villeneuve says Nico Rosberg is 100 per cent to blame for his crash with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.
Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton on the first lap of the Spanish GP
Image credit: AFP
The former Williams driver said the German should not have moved across the track after Hamilton had attempted to overtake in the incident that ended both drivers’ races.
Villeneuve, a former world champion who also raced at Renault and Sauber in a 10-year Formula One career, said the driving was dangerous and would never have happened in an earlier era.
“You never saw it in the ‘80s because they’d kill each other,” the Canadian told The Mirror. “Now the drivers think they are in a video game.
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Nico Rosberg (Mercedes), Lewis Hamilton (Mercedes) - GP of Spain 2016
Image credit: AFP
“It’s the one thing you never do. You can ask if Lewis should have been so aggressive but if you want to blame someone its 100 per cent Nico.
“He moved when Lewis had already made his move. You don’t do that, it’s why there is a rule in place It’s the most dangerous thing you can do in racing - and the unfairest.
“From that point of view he was 100 per cent wrong.”
The incident has split opinion, with Mercedes chief Niki Lauda blaming Hamilton and calling the incident “unacceptable”.
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INDIANAPOLIS - MAY 17: Jacques Villeneuve of Canada, driver of the #5 Dollar General Schmidt Peterson Motorsports Honda Dallara poses for a photo for after qualifying for during qualifying for the 98th Indianapolis 500 Mile Race on May 17, 2014 at the Ind
Image credit: AFP
But Villeneuve insisted Rosberg was at fault after losing momentum because he had the wrong setting on his engine as Hamilton pushed up the inside.
“Nico saw Lewis in the mirrors and pushed him onto the grass,” added Rosberg. “You don’t do that.
“Nico waited too long. He should have come out of the corner and gone to the inside. Not wait until Lewis had started his move. You don’t do that.
“What could Lewis have done differently ?
Hamilton apologized to the team and Lauda and the entire team but said he would not change the way he races.
“The accident doesn’t change anything between us,” said Hamilton. “We will keep racing and try to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”
“That’s the most important thing.”
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