Former world champion Nico Rosberg believes Mercedes copped the blame for Lewis Hamilton’s woeful outcome on the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix to maintain the British driver motivated.
Hamilton completed thirteenth, a lap down on winner Max Verstappen and 9 locations and one minute behind team-mate George Russell.
Mercedes boss Toto Wolff informed Hamilton the automotive was “undriveable” and issued an apology to the seven-time world champion in a grovelling radio message after the chequered flag.
However Rosberg mentioned his former adversary and team-mate at Mercedes ought to have carried out higher.
“Toto was taking part in the psychological recreation,” Rosberg, who beat Hamilton to the 2016 title earlier than retiring 5 days later, informed Sky Sports activities.
“Taking the blame permits them to help Lewis mentally. By saying, ‘hey, Lewis, it's none of your doing, it's actually on us’, could be very sensible as a result of it isn't actually the reality.
“Let’s not neglect that Russell completed fourth with that very same automotive so Lewis undoubtedly had an enormous position to play in that poor outcome.
“There was extra in that automotive, however Toto is attempting to elevate Lewis up as a result of it's so essential to verify Lewis is motivated for the entire season.
“It's straightforward for him to lose motivation in most of these conditions.”
Hamilton is already 58 factors off the title tempo together with his hopes of a file eighth world championship over for this 12 months, and presumably past.
Russell has added extra salt to the injuries by beating his established team-mate at three of the opening 4 rounds, in addition to Saturday’s dash race.
However the youthful Briton, 21 factors forward of Hamilton within the standings, mentioned: “Lewis will come again extremely strongly, and I've little question about that.
“He's so robust and the way in which he's motivating and pushing the group is inspiring.
“I'm not getting snug on this place as a result of I do know what he's able to.”
Hamilton will return to motion at subsequent Sunday’s maiden Miami Grand Prix.
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