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VIDEO UPDATE Rosberg: 'My version is different'

ALAN BALDWIN

LONDON, England - Nico Rosberg has questioned Lewis Hamilton's version of events since the Mercedes team mates collided while contesting the lead on Lap 2 of the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix on August 24.

Hamilton told reporters at Spa on Sunday that the F1 championship leader told a post-race team meeting that he did it on purpose "to make a point".

Rosberg, who has dismissed the collision as a racing incident, said on a video blog from Hamburg that he saw it differently.

'KEEPING IT INTERNAL'

"Definitely one of the more difficult video blogs today," said the German. "I've been told what Lewis said in the news media and the way he has stated his version of the events. All I can say is that my view of the events is very different.

"The thing is it's just better that I don't now give all the details of my opinion and things like that. I hope you respect that," added the German. "I prefer to just keep it internal."

VIDEO: Nico Rosberg's 2014 Belgium GP blog entry

Rosberg left Spa with a 29-point lead over Hamilton, who retired from the race with a damaged car floor after picking up a puncture as a result of his team mate's front wing hitting a rear tyre.

Mercedes motorsport head Toto Wolff said on Sunday the post-race meeting with drivers had been heated and explained that Rosberg had wanted to show he was not going to back off but had not intended to collide.

AVOIDABLE COLLISION

Rosberg said there had been an "important discussion" with more to come before the Italian GP at Monza on September 7. "Now we need to look forward. There will be another discussion because we need to see if we need to change our approach in the future, as we did in Hungary. And we will do that.

"I'm confident that, as always, we are going to find a way back and then keep fighting in Monza and on we go."

Rosberg was blamed by team bosses after the race for causing what was an avoidable collision, although stewards took no action and the governing body was unlikely to take it further.

Jenson Button, the 2009 F1 champion and Hamilton's former team mate at McLaren, was also critical of Rosberg. "I think any driver would look at it (the incident) now, and I'm sure Nico will look at it, and say 'I don't know what I was thinking'," the Briton told reporters.

"You should be able to judge situations like that a bit better.

Button sympathised with Hamilton and felt the incident had robbed fans of a great battle.

"It is a shame it's not a cleaner fight," Button said. "I've always said the person who wins the championship this year is the person who does the best job on the circuit, but that does not seem the way it is at the moment.

"Mercedes will still win the championships but what has happened definitely adds spice to what is already a pretty spicy relationship."

Stay with Wheels24 for the 2014 F1 season – fresh reports every day.
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