SPANISH GRAND PRIX - HAMILTON'S RASHNESS DOES NOT EXCUSE ROSBERG'S RECKLESSNESS

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nd so we have had it, that the Spanish Grand Prix, which offered so much hope for Hamilton to turn around his series of misfortunes and seize the opportunity to score his first win in the 2016 Formula 1 season, produced the most spectacular crash which wiped out the Mercedes' winning Silver Arrows.

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es, although Hamilton started on Pole, he was soon to be overtaken by his team mate and rival, Rosberg. Still into the very early stages of the first lap, Hamilton found his team mate apparently momentarily dozing, and made a bold sprint to try to overtake him on the right of the track. Yes, it would have been a spectacular pass, if it had been successful, but Hamilton had not taken into account that his team mate would have responded with the cold and brutal indifference to his safety and their team's chances of winning, by recklessly moving to the right and forcing him off the track.

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he result, as everybody now know, is that Hamilton's car inevitably crashed, which is what Rosberg should have reasonably expected. Unfortunately or fortunately for Rosberg, Hamilton's car rebounded and wiped out his car as well, which was undoubtedly not what Rosberg had expected or wanted, but which is what fate had decreed was a just recompense for his intentional action to put his team mate out of the race.

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osberg was as mad as hell, but, really, he had nobody other than himself to blame for his reckless action. Yes, it might have been 'his right' to move to the right to attempt to cut off his team mate, but, where is the logic and good sense in executing 'your rightful manoeuvre', if it is not only going to inevitably result in the wrecking of your team mate's car and race (which is what might reasonably be assumed to have been Rosberg's intention), but risk wrecking your race chances as well?

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s Rosberg is reported to have said later, the "race was his to win", as he had decided that nothing was going to prevent him wrong playing it as tough and recklessly as he needed to do, to achieve his ambition. In this, he acted without prudence and common sense.

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hat, of course, was not the conclusion of people like Nikki Lauder and Jackie Stewart, both of whom have opted to blame Lewis Hamilton for the crash. I can see their emotionally induced logic, which is similar to the paradox of a parent chastising a child, after he/she has hurt themselves by doing something which they might have been warned not to do, or should have known that they should not have done. The child getting hurt might not actually be his/her 'fault', but the parent cannot get over the fact that, if only the child 'had not done what they did, then this would not have happened and they would not have gotten hurt.' As I said, it is not sound logic.  For Nikki and Stewart, what irks them most, is the fact that Hamilton 'did not have to attempt to overtake Rosberg in the first lap.'  

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his, more than the mechanics and dynamics of the crash, the fact that Rosberg did not have to be so damn reckless and attempt to push his team mate into the barrier, is what they cannot get over. They would prefer to argue that Hamilton's move was too risky - is that not what F1 is about - and he should not have attempted it. Of course, if it had been successful, had Rosberg not been so damned reckless, they might have said Hamilton was lucky or that it was a 'bold move', probably assisted by Rosberg showing some maturity.

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ikky and Stewart might argue that they are calling it like they see it, but one wonders what Hamilton should make of their eagerness to rubbish him; are they genuine friends, or even objective observers? Because, if they are, how much more harshly and unjust must be the verdict of his enemies or haters?

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he challenge for Hamilton is still that of picking himself up from this fiasco, which has presented other drivers with the opportunity to show their metal, and Max Verstappen to shine through and win his first Grand Prix race, and place himself in a winning position for the next Grand Prix race in Monaco.

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o it, Lewis, and play for the long game, especially now that you know that your team mate has apparently gone back to his old ways, in his attempt to secure his first Championship. As you said, doing justice for to the work of the thousands of Mercedes staff working their hearts out to keep you and Rosberg on the track and target, is what it really is all about; not just personal glory for either of you.

OWOHROD