Nico Rosberg criticised McLaren to CEO Zak Brown after their mistake during the Belgian Grand Prix, which could have cost Lando Norris a race win.
As McLaren run away with the Constructors’ title, their two drivers battle it out for the Drivers’ title. Oscar Piastri leads Norris in the championship and extended his advantage at the top of the table by winning the Belgian Grand Prix.
| Position | Drivers' Championship | Points |
| 1 | Oscar Piastri | 266 |
| 2 | Lando Norris | 250 |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | 185 |
| 4 | George Russell | 157 |
Zak Brown admitted that a key moment in the race cost Norris the race lead on the opening lap, and former F1 champion Rosberg was quick to criticise the McLaren boss for it.
Nico Rosberg tells Zak Brown that Norris’ battery issue cost him a Belgian Grand Prix win
The Belgian Grand Prix got underway with a rolling start, with Norris leading the pack down the start/finish straight. But Piastri immediately cruised past the Brit on the run down to turn five, taking the lead and never looking back.
Speaking with Sky Sports after the race, Brown admitted it was a battery issue that allowed Piastri to overtake his teammate.
Rosberg, who is quick to share opinions on drivers, responded, “That could be a big one. It only takes a tiny amount there, and that could have been costing him the win there today, so that’s a real tough one.”
Piastri had serious overspeed against Norris on the straight and was well past him by turn five. The battery issue would explain that. Piastri also reported a battery issue on his car, but Brown said he needs to check the data on that.
Norris did have the opportunity to catch Piastri at the end of the race. However, critical mistakes prevented him from doing so.
Nico Rosberg questions Lando Norris after Belgian Grand Prix, ‘Hamilton…’
Norris made three crucial mistakes which cost him a chance to overtake Piastri in the final laps. He had the tyre advantage and was hunting down his teammate at the end of the Grand Prix, but cost himself four seconds with critical mistakes during the hunt.
He credited the mistakes to how hard he was pushing in the final laps, but Rosberg questioned whether F1’s all-time greats would have made the same errors.
He said, “I just question whether someone like Hamilton, if he also would have made three mistakes? I’m not sure. Pushing like crazy in a race like that, when it’s Hammer time. I’m not sure, I think they don’t happen, those mistakes.”
Damon Hill, another world champion, said Piastri has the mental edge over Norris, and this was further evidence of that. Norris was chipping into the points deficit to his teammate in the championship with back-to-back wins, but now Piastri is back in the driver’s seat.