Verstappen and Hamilton during Hungarian GP press conference — Photo: © LAT Images

Nico Rosberg

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Hamilton shrug a "position of strength" over Verstappen outburst - Rosberg

Verstappen exploded in the post-qualifying press conference ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix

Ewan Gale

Monday 9 August 2021 18:33

Former F1 champion Nico Rosberg believes the calm reaction shown by Lewis Hamilton during Max Verstappen's Hungarian Grand Prix outburst proves a "position of strength".

Following the title combatants Silverstone collision, both drivers faced a grilling on the topic in the lead up to the Hungarian Grand Prix.

After qualifying, the drivers were asked what their mindset would be heading to turn one to which Verstappen snapped: "Can we just already stop about this! We've had so many ******* questions about this. It's just ridiculous."

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Seven-time champion Hamilton simply shrugged his shoulders in response, something Rosberg sees as a telling sign in the championship battle.

"I would say if you look at the grand scheme of things, Mercedes are having the upper hand now in everything, in pace, in posture, in attitude, everything," Rosberg told Sky Sports F1.

"Max Verstappen, we saw him in the press conference losing his cool, really shouting a little bit at the journalists and that really plays into Mercedes' hands at the moment.

"[Lewis] is very smart. He knows how to deal with all the situations that are thrown at him.

"He is very smart at saying the right things in the press. Verstappen lost his cool when it was a journalist asking if they were going to collide again at turn one.

"Verstappen was shouting and Lewis just did a shrug of the shoulders and it was a position of strength from him."

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