Rosberg: Russell ‘can’t just be the nice guy’ at Mercedes

Nico Rosberg knows a few things about racing alongside Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes, and the 2016 F1 world champion says George Russell must keep the pressure on his teammate and not remain in the role of "the nice guy".

The intra-team battle at Mercedes between Hamilton and Russell ramped up a notch recently. The pair wrestled for position in the Japanese Grand Prix, a tussle that almost ended in the gravel trap for both drivers.

But two weeks later in Qatar, a misjudged move by Hamilton at the first corner after the start saw both Mercedes cars veer off course, but with the seven-time world champion retiring on the spot.

The wheel-to-wheel scuffles were reminiscent of the on-track scraps that opposed Hamilton to Rosberg, and the German is well placed to talk about the current situation at Brackley and about Russell’s mindset in particular.

“Things have been heating up there because also in Suzuka it was well over the limit on one occasion when they both took each other off the track," Rosberg told Sky F1.

"It's a very difficult situation for George as well. Unfortunately, you can't just be the nice guy in that situation - you have to also internally keep the pressure on.

"You have to make it difficult for the team, unfortunately. It sucks, but otherwise the team will always just take the easiest route.

"So it's very uncomfortable because George needs to be pushing - which he does on the radio, you hear him saying things like 'again' and things like that. So he's really trying to hold against it."

• Read also: Wolff a ‘strong presence’ at Mercedes despite absence

As he sat in the gravel trap at Lusail pondering what may have been, Hamilton initially pointed the finger at Russell, saying over the radio "I've just been taken out by my teammate".

But after a reflective walk back to the pits and a proper review of the incident, the Briton admitted that the run-in had been "100 percent" his own fault.

Rosberg believes that given the context, Hamilton’s admission is “a big win” for Russell.

"It was a good one in Qatar for George because Lewis actually admitted [he was wrong]," he added.

"So that was a big win for George in that sense, also internally, which is very rare because in my time Lewis never had 100 per cent fault, so he never actually had to admit in that way.

"So it's very, very rare for Lewis to be at 100 per cent fault at that, it usually never happens.

"It's to be watched. It's an interesting battle and dynamic opening out there."

In Qatar, Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff was still on his leave of absence, recovery from knee surgery.

Although the Austrian was plugged into the action thanks to his remote home communication set-up, Rosberg feels that the team would have likely benefitted from his presence to help deal with the commotion.

"That would not have been ideal because Toto is the only person there who can manage that - the only person who has the authority and respect to be able to handle that, and he's the right guy to handle that," Rosberg said.

"No one else can force them to sit down and have a discussion. I think it will be very good for Toto to be back at the racetrack."

Rosberg believes that Wolff may have organized after Qatar a sit-down with his drivers in Monaco, where all three men live, to clear up any remaining misunderstandings.

"What Toto can do, maybe when they are back in Monaco [at home] on the Monday after Qatar, maybe he would have sat down with both or go and visit Lewis' apartment and sit down with George individually first. Then ideally you also sit them together.

"He's had so much experience with managing team-mates, so he knows what needs to be done. The most important thing for him is to be neutral, which is advice Alain Prost gave him during my time.

"He said, 'Toto, the most important thing is never take a side between drivers. Stay neutral because once you take a side it spirals out of control'.

"So I'm sure Toto will have learned a lot and I'm sure he will be managing that well."

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