Why Rosberg was happy to see Hamilton's Monza error

Nico Rosberg joked that he was happy to see Lewis Hamilton's chance of winning the Italian Grand Prix go up in smoke as he made a similar decision to the German had in a previous battle between them at Monza.

Hamilton fought hard to get by Charles Leclerc, but eventually fell away from the Ferrari man when he locked up his tyres at the first turn, with a trip through the snaking emergency route also dropping him behind team-mate Valtteri Bottas, who also finished behind Leclerc despite a late charge.

Rosberg lost a Monza win to Hamilton in 2014 by taking to the same escape route, rather than try to remain ahead by cutting the corner.

Leclerc made a similar error earlier in the race when Hamilton was closing him down, but remained ahead after taking a painful trip over the harsh kerbs in the middle of the chicane, a "smart" move in Rosberg's book.

And Rosberg said on YouTube of Hamilton's decision to bail out: "I was very happy to see actually, for once, he made a similar not so smart move as I did five years ago.

"I thought I was the only dumb person at the time that would go straight on at the chicane and naturally give up a place.

"To go around those polystyrene blocks takes for ever. Lewis did the same towards the end of the race, locked up same place. But instead of going over the big rumble strips, he went straight on, polystyrene, and gave up the position to Valtteri. So that made me feel a little better for once!"

Related

Lewis Hamilton

Hamilton drops Mercedes BOMBSHELL ahead of Las Vegas GP

• Yesterday 20:02

F1 Today

F1 News Today: Hamilton FRUSTRATION revealed as seven-time champion makes LAST RACE announcement

• Yesterday 15:33