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Merc row: Lewis defiant, Rosberg grumbles

BUDAPEST, Hungary - Mercedes Formula 1 bosses are heading into the month-long mid-year holiday break scratching their heads over how to deal with what some say is intensified tension between its two drivers after the 2014 Hungarian GP.


Red Bull's Daniel Ricciardo may have won in Hungary but team boss Toto Wolff admitted it was Nico Rosberg who probably should have held the biggest trophy aloft - if only Lewis Hamilton had obeyed a clear and repeated team order.


German news media reported that even though Rosberg was determined to play it cool, calm and controversy-free he "poked his tongue out" at the outcome of the Hungarian race by uncharacteristically wearing his cap backwards during a post-race meeting with reporters.

TEAM ORDER CONTROVERSY

He was asked if Wolff had been correct to say Hamilton had spoiled his possible win in Budapest. Rosberg said: "That's so theoretical.  I don't know. Ah, no, no let's go with what Toto said.  He's looked at all the data, let's go with his opinion. He's the best person to know that."


It's as close as the controversy-dodging Rosberg would come to accusing Hamilton of ruining his race but he did admit that he thought Hamilton should have obeyed the order: "Lewis didn't let me by although he was ordered to, so that's obviously not good."


Beyond that, he closed the door on the topic.

"I'm sorry. I don't want to say anything on the subject. I don't know what Lewis said. You all saw what happened. It's pretty obvious, it was all on the radio, but it's better if we discuss everything behind closed doors."

Do you think Mercedes’ Lewis Hamilton should’ve allowed team mate Nico Rosberg to overtake? Have your say in our home page voting booth! 

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

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