Rosberg, Hamilton to ‘clear the air’

Mercedes duo to resolve Bahrain conflict before Chinese GP.

SHANGHAI: World championship leader Nico Rosberg said that his Mercedes team would sit down on Thursday night and clear the air between him and Lewis Hamilton after their battle in Bahrain.

Hamilton held off his clearly quicker teammate over the final few laps to win his second race in a row after a duel, during which Rosberg complained over the radio, ‘That’s not on’.



Rosberg admitted to reporters on Thursday that it had ‘taken a while’ to get over coming second to Hamilton but added he was fully focused on Shanghai this weekend ‘because I know I can win here’.

“It was an enjoyable fight, during the race anyway,” added Rosberg, who scored his maiden victory in China two years ago.

But he added they would iron out any differences during an evening team meeting.

“It’s completely normal that, as a team, when there are races when a lot has happened that you’re going to go and sit down and discuss,” he said.

“That’s very, very important to move forward. And we will do that and we will do that today [Thursday].”

‘We want the issue to be addressed’

Nico Hulkenberg on Thursday denied reports that Formula One drivers were threatening to go on strike over unpaid salaries, but he called for quick action to resolve the problem.

“We are discussing that issue at the moment regarding unpaid drivers and it is something that is not good for the sport — the pinnacle of motor racing,” said Hulkenberg.

“We have never discussed doing a strike but we want the issue to be addressed. And we want it to be improved.”

Hulkenberg, third in the drivers’ standings with Force India after three races, was asked about a possible strike at the Chinese Grand Prix on Thursday, denied the claims.

Published in The Express Tribune, April 18^th, 2014.

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