It may seem far-fetched given the inherent advantage of Mercedes’ car, but
such is the breakdown in trust between Hamilton and Rosberg, rivals and
friends since their karting days, they could quite conceivably run each
other off the road. Watching the replay of Sunday’s incident only convinced
Hamilton and many in the paddock of such a view.
Coming up the long Kemmel straight to Les Combes, with Hamilton in the lead,
Rosberg pulled out of the slipstream. He was within touching distance but by
no means alongside. Next to Hamilton’s left rear tyre, Rosberg made several
adjustments of the wheel. First, he moved away. But then, he turned back
towards Hamilton, more so than was necessary to take the corner. The result:
Hamilton toured back to the pits with a puncture but his car was ruined.
The Briton was legitimately asked last night if he could trust Rosberg in
future combat. He did not seem to have much of an answer, but the apparent
mistrust will only breed greater suspicion and antipathy. The fundamental
problem for Mercedes is they have reached the point of no return. The
collision hits the self-destruct button. It is hard to envisage a way back.
The Brackley-based folk are at the heart of the fundamental contradiction of
Formula One: two teams within a team; two drivers whose interests broadly
contradict that of the team which employs them to race. Mercedes are
learning on the job, as Ron Dennis did with Prost and Ayrton Senna at
McLaren, and Sir Frank Williams did with Piquet and Mansell. As those two
beasts of the sport know, and Mercedes are fast learning, there is no
obvious solution.
Mercedes have done their best to be open, but the rules they laid down have
simply not been obeyed. It is difficult to envisage more words having much
of an impact. Even Ross Brawn, the former team principal with a headmasterly
air, might have struggled to control a situation which has been festering
all year. How they could use his input now.
The ice bucket challenge has been all the rage in F1 this weekend, yet it will
take a glacier to cool the flames between these two. A smiling Australian,
driving the season of his life, may well be the beneficiary.