Rosberg plays down Hamilton row

In the aftermath of the British Grand Prix some members of the media have tried to whip up a storm between Mercedes drivers Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton.

Following Hamilton’s Silverstone victory and Rosberg’s retirement with gearbox issues, the British driver soaked up the unique partisan atmosphere of the British Grand Prix.

Hamilton along with fellow compatriot’s Jensen Button and Max Chilton all praised the British crowd for the support throughout the entire weekend.

The British crowd is widely known as the best in the world with 1992 Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell famously claiming it was worth a second a lap to him.

The next round of the 2014 Formula One World Championship is in Germany, so one member of the media asked Hamilton if he thought that Rosberg would receive the same amount of support.

Hamilton said: ?I know whilst it?s Nico?s home Grand Prix, he doesn?t have even one eighth of the support us Brits get here. The fans are unlike anywhere else so I?m not worried in that sense.?

Speaking to the Guardian as quoted by Sky Sports he added: ?To be honest, Nico has never been in Germany, so he?s not really German. I remember when we used to race during karting, he never stood next to a German flag ? not ever,?

?We would have to go on the start line and all the drivers would have to stand next to a grid girl in a line. The girls would be holding the flags or a sign saying Hungary or whatever, and he always stood by the Monaco one. He never stood by a German flag. He is German-Finnish-Monaco-esque, or whatever. So it would be great to win in Germany.?

The media, including Sky Sports tried to whip the comments into the latest off the track tussle between the Mercedes drivers with Formula One spectators who don’t like Hamilton using it as the latest opportunity to slam the 2008 Formula One World Champion.

However much to their probable disgust, Rosberg whilst completing a days testing at Mercedes has not only played down the remarks but has also agreed with his team-mate.

?I was actually there when he said it and I think it was actually the person interviewing who said those questions and Lewis didn?t really answer much really, What do you want me to say? Everyone can judge however they want.?

When pushed by Sky Sports on whether he considered himself to be as German as Hamilton was British he said: ?Not really, I didn?t grow up in Germany so I guess I am not as ‘British’ as he is, but I consider myself 100% German.?

His comments will not surprise anyone in Germany as Rosberg has never claimed to have the strongest roots with his home nation.

Whilst born in Germany he moved to Monaco at four months old. His father, former Formula One racing driver Keke Rosberg is Finnish, whilst his mother is German.

In an interview in 2005 he said: ‘I don’t think of myself as being Finnish but I don’t really think of myself as being a German either. It is not like the Brazilians, who have this big patriotic thing. I don’t have that and I guess in a way it’s unfortunate.’