After the pair fell out spectacularly in Monte Carlo, Hamilton left no one
under any illusions that he regards Rosberg’s mistake in qualifying as a
deliberate attempt to scupper his final lap by bringing out the yellow laps.
He appeared dejected immediately after the race, but Jenson Button, who was
witness to Hamilton’s emotional volatility over three years as team-mates,
said he would recover to drive an “untouchable” race in Montreal.
Button said: “I remember with Lewis that when we had a tussle in a race or
there was an issue between us or with the team, he would have a really bad
race and be quite outspoken and emotional. And the next race he would
destroy me. The mind games people play on him will not work. Initially, he
is an emotional character and he will be hurt but he comes back stronger
than ever.”
Mercedes will have a tough time keeping a lid on the situation, but in Niki
Lauda they have the perfect man for the job. The Austrian admitted that the
row remained unresolved, with Hamilton still declining to accept Rosberg’s
apology for what happened in qualifying. Lauda insisted it would be fixed
before the next race in Canada, but admonished his drivers for failing to be
courteous and recognise one another on the podium.
“What I did not like, I have to say, and I will tell him this, is that when
you are up there [on the podium] and you don’t say hello to your team-mate,
which Nico has always done, that is not good.
“It’s not because I am well educated, but it’s for the brand Mercedes. This is
something I start to worry about now, but it’s easy to fix.”
The seventh act in the Hamilton-Rosberg drama – the dominant story in F1 –
will take place in Montreal, with the German holding a four-point lead in
the championship after his victory on Sunday. Montreal is the venue of
Hamilton’s maiden victory in 2007, and he has driven superbly there since.
As Button says: “He will probably be untouchable in Canada.”
Button, who returned to the points with sixth on Sunday, added: “He would be
very quiet when he came back [after an upset]. After a bad race where
nothing dodgy was going on and he was just beaten fair and square, he would
arrive at the next race very quiet and then go and blitz it. He will do the
same in Canada.”
Hamilton has been enjoying the company of his popstar girlfriend, Nicole
Scherzinger, who was left to brighten the Briton’s mood. “I am sure I will
[forget Monaco by Canada],” he said. “I have a beautiful girl to go home to.
I am sure she will make sure I forget that. It was a difficult weekend and I
have always said that whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”