Nico Rosberg knows what it takes to beat Lewis Hamilton to a world title, and the former driver doesn't see it happening for Sebastian Vettel if he continues to make mistakes.
The Ferrari driver, armed undoubtedly with the fastest car in the field, lost all chances of delivering a home win to the Scuderia on Sunday after clashing with Hamilton on the race's opening lap.
The mishap left Vettel chasing from behind and ultimately with a deficit in the title fight increased to 30 points when all was said and done.
There have been no lack of errors this season on the part of the four-time world champion, with botches in Baku, France and Germany. A fact that wasn't lost on 2016 world champion Nico Rosberg.
"You cannot beat Lewis Hamilton to a championship by making so many mistakes, that’s a fact," Rosberg told Sky F1 at Monza.
"So he’s got to sort that out, otherwise it’s not going to happen. Lewis is the benchmark out there. Surely he’s at the peak of his career, and it’s all going his way."
Assessing the action that happened on the opening lap of Sunday's race, Rosberg had a clear view of who was responsible for the opening lap tangle between the sport's arch-rivals.
"Lewis has no fault, because he leaves plenty of space," said Rosberg. "There is nothing you can blame him for.
"Sebastian runs too wide, gets into Lewis and spins out. That was the end of it, 110% Sebastian’s fault."
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Rosberg admitted he is in awe of Hamilton's current form.
"Epic drive from Lewis, that’s why he’s considered one of the best out there – and one of the best of all time," he said. "He showed it again today, in an inferior car.
"He nailed the start and got past Sebastian, made him [make] a huge mistake, which put him all the way back. Then he got Kimi [Raikkonen] as well. It doesn’t get better than that."
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