Report: Hamilton blocked Rosberg interview at Hockenheim

Report: Hamilton blocked Rosberg interview at Hockenheim

Originally written by Joas van Wingerden. This version is a translation.

Saturday 21 July 2018 14:29

Lewis Hamilton blocked plans to have Nico Rosberg conduct grid interviews at the Germany Grand Prix, according to reports in local media. Rosberg has confirmed that he had been set to quiz the drivers after qualifying and the race, only to be cancelled on by Liberty Media.

Rosberg conducted interviews at the Monaco Grand Prix in 2017, when Hamilton was not in the top three on either Saturday or Sunday, however the reigning champion will be expected to challenge at Hockenheim.

And according to Bild, Hamilton's desire not to cross paths with his former team-mate prompted him to veto Rosberg's appearance over the race weekend.

Since retiring as world champion in 2016, Rosberg has made a successful career for himself as a pundit with RTL in Germany and Sky Sports in the UK.

It appears Rosberg was not told of the reported reason for him being dropped as chief interrogator after the weekend's sessions.

"It was for Monaco and Hockenheim so I thought," Rosberg told Bild.

"Both times I had already gotten the release of RTL. But then came a few days before the message that there is no need."

Hamilton and Rosberg had an acrimonious four years together as Mercedes team-mates, with things coming to a head particularly in 2014 as they squabbled on track, coming to blows numerous times.