Villeneuve: Rosberg tried to ruin Hamilton's race
28 July 2014 – Jacques Villeneuve believes that Nico Rosberg tried to "destroy" Lewis Hamilton's Hungarian Grand Prix.
Rosberg was running directly behind Mercedes team-mate Hamilton before his final stop when the team ordered Hamilton, not needing to pit again, to move over and let the German through to maximise his opposing strategy.
With Hamilton ignoring the repeated calls, Rosberg – who has denied making the initial request – was heard questioning why he had not been allowed to pass, an action former World Champion Villeneuve has criticised.
"There was no reason or sense in the message because it was obvious that to let Nico by [Hamilton] would have lost two seconds in his own race," said Villeneuve in an interview with BBC Radio 5 live. "It wouldn't have helped Nico win because Nico was already losing his tyres and two laps later Nico was actually slower than Lewis.
"That's why Nico was complaining and whining because he knew that all he was wanting to do was to destroy Lewis' race, not to help his own. And it didn't work out."
The 1997 title winner continued: "[Rosberg] knew his tyres were shot. He would have gotten in front of Lewis and then slowed him down and just made Lewis lose a lot of points. It would have made it a little bit easier to fight for the win, but [Daniel] Ricciardo was faster. He probably would have beaten Lewis, but that's it."
Although Rosberg retains the championship lead, Villeneuve feels the recent drama could favour Hamilton.
"Lewis is used to fighting back now. And he seems to react better when things go wrong because he's used to them," he went on to explain. "At least, maybe, they'll stop acting as being the best friends in the world..."