Mercedes Made the Right Call in Handling of Lewis Hamilton-Nico Rosberg Crash

The only surprising thing about Lewis Hamilton's collision with Nico Rosberg at the Spanish Grand Prix is that it did not happen sooner. For more than two years, the Mercedes team-mates have been duelling head-to-head for Formula One championships, yet this is the first time they have both retired from a race due to a crash with each other.

Since the beginning of 2014, Hamilton and Rosberg have started alongside each other on the front row 30 times. There have been a few close calls—think back to last year in Japan and the United States—but the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix is the only other race where a collision between the team-mates cost Mercedes points (Hamilton was eventually forced to retire after Rosberg clipped the back of his car on the second lap).

Maybe the only positive for Mercedes to take away from the latest incident in Barcelona is the team's brain trust learned from what happened in Spa nearly two years ago. The two incidents are similar, but not identical, although Mercedes handled the Barcelona crash more efficiently, which should benefit the team in the long term.

Back in 2014, just to refresh our memories, the controversy dragged on for a week before Rosberg issued what looked like a forced apology.

And while Rosberg took the majority of the criticism and blame for hitting his team-mate, Hamilton admitted in a statement on his own website that, "We have both made mistakes and I feel it would be wrong to point fingers and say which one is worse than the other."

Mercedes also released a statement saying "suitable disciplinary measures have been taken," but declined to name them.

While there is an argument to be made for allowing everyone to cool off before discussing a crash, as Mercedes did two years ago, the team was more decisive last Sunday in Spain. Despite the difficult and disappointing situation in Barcelona, where the team potentially lost 43 points, clearing the air immediately should allow everyone involved to move on more quickly. 

Each driver will naturally want to blame the other for the crash, but the team accepted the stewards' decision that it was a racing incident. "Today was just a couple of unfortunate coincidences that ended up in us losing as a team," executive director Toto Wolff said, according to Autosport's Ian Parkes and Matt Beer.

While nonexecutive chairman (and three-time world champion) Niki Lauda blamed Hamilton on Sky Sports' television coverage in the immediate aftermath of the crash, Wolff told the official F1 website, "Well, Niki has his very own view on things—and that is fair enough. But probably when you have all the data and have talked to the drivers the picture will be slightly different."

Jackie Stewart, another triple world champion, also offered his opinion, per F1i.com's Phillip van Osten, saying, "That's not the way to win, not consistently. Hamilton is to blame. Rosberg is allowed to protect himself. You don't go for it on the first lap."

But Wolff's view is the correct one, even if it is unpopular with some of the fans and former drivers calling for blood. Both drivers made split-second decisions that—unfortunately for the team—resulted in a crash. Once Hamilton committed to the gap he saw, he still did everything he could to avoid a collision, even driving onto the grass when Rosberg left him no room on the circuit.

Mark Thompson/Getty Images

It was an embarrassing situation for Wolff and the rest of the team to have both of their cars out on the first lap, particularly with Dieter Zetsche, chairman of Mercedes parent company Daimler AG, watching from the team garage. But even so, Wolff refused to throw either of his drivers to the waiting wolves.

After the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix, Hamilton won six of the final seven races to clinch the drivers' championship. Was Rosberg's confidence shaken after shouldering the blame for the Spa crash, or was Hamilton galvanized by his frustration? Perhaps both, but what is certain is that the race marked a turning point in the championship.

It is hard to say which driver benefits (if you can call it that) most from the crash last Sunday: Rosberg, who maintained the points gap to Hamilton, but now with one fewer race, or Hamilton, by not allowing Rosberg to further extend his lead. Either way, Wolff clearly wanted to avoid the Spanish Grand Prix becoming a flash point in the still-young season.

Clive Mason/Getty Images

Mercedes needs both its drivers clear-headed and focused if they are to fend off the coming charges from Red Bull and Ferrari. Blaming one driver over the other could have had a detrimental effect on that man's confidence going forward, but Mercedes are continuing their long-stated goal of putting both drivers on equal footing.

The official reaction to the Barcelona crash (rather than Lauda's shots from the hip) reflects this. Wolff is standing behind his drivers—both of them—giving them the confidence to continue pushing the limits. 

Mercedes have already taken some criticism from Stewart and others for being too lenient with Hamilton, but just a couple of weeks ago, the team had to deny rumours of a conspiracy against Hamilton. We can't have it both ways, people!

In the end, Mercedes acted in the best interests of the team. They have won the last two drivers' and constructors' championships and are well on their way to a third of each one. Maybe we should give Wolff and the rest of the management team the benefit of the doubt.

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