Lauda: We'll sort out Monaco rowposted in F127 | 05 | 2014
CAPTION: Lewis Hamilton (right) could well be asking Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg: "So, just run that by me again: when you were heading for the tight right-hander at Mirabeau, what exactly happened?"
MERCEDES GP BOSS and former F1 world champ, Niki Lauda, has stressed that he will "sort out" the intense bad feeling between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg following the Monaco Grand Prix qualifying.
The pair are understood not to have spoken to each other since Rosberg controversially parked his Mercedes GP in the slip road at the end of the straight approaching Mirabeau.
The German's action denied his team-mate the opportunity of a last-minute run in an effort to deny him the crucial pole position for the race.
Incensed by Rosberg's actions — which interestingly the stewards reviewed but failed to find any cause for action — Hamilton refused to acknowledge his team-mate following qualifying, and on the podium following the race: on the tight, narrow and twisting street circuit, the two drivers finished the race in the 1-2 order in which they started.
While the world watched the very public deterioration of what had been heralded as 'the perfect team pairing' — and the two have been friends since they competed against each other in karts — Lauda, the Mercedes GP chairman, pledged to resolve the issues before the Canadian Grand Prix in 10 days.
"I understand all the comments and I have to wait two or three days, but before it goes to Canada it will be solved," he said. "I spoke to the drivers before the race and it is not finished.
"I will speak to them like I always do. They always call me when they have problems, so I think it will sort itself out.
"It is normal. I had the same with (Alain) Prost. I hated the guy, but at least I said 'hello' in the morning.
Related: Mercedes duo in Monaco quali row
"There are certain limits and these certain limits I can reintroduce because I speak their language, the drivers' language, and they do understand me: they like me and there is no issue.
"Lewis not happy finishing second is normal, but in the end he has to accept another guy was quicker. This is very simple in racing.
"What I did not like, and I have to say — and I will tell him this — is that when you on the podium and you don't say hello to your team-mate, which Nico has always done, that is not good.
"It's not because I am well educated, but it's for the brand Mercedes. This is something I start to worry about now, but it's easy to fix."
Hamilton meanwhile has admitted he is baffled as to why the fight with Rosberg turned so quickly into open warfare. And the former world champ, who heads to Montreal trailing Rosberg by four points, explained he was surprised with the way the situation escalated and was uncertain what had triggered it.
"I don't know. I'm not entirely sure," Hamilton said, after being asked if he could identify what had caused the controversial turn of events. "Just competition, that's what we have this weekend.
"One weekend is one way and one weekend is another and this weekend went a direction I wasn't expecting, but it's a good experience.
"I'm aware of it now and I'll make sure I'm aware of it for the future."
Related: Rosberg dominates in Monaco
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Jim McGill
Photo: Copyright Mercedes GP