Mercedes chairman NikI Lauda says victory at the Mexican Grand Prix was crucial for Nico Rosberg after he lost out on his second consecutive drivers' title one week ago.
Rosberg threw away a shot at victory at the U.S. Grand Prix in Austin, handing team-mate Lewis Hamilton the win and the opportunity to seal his third world title. Ahead of the Mexican Grand Prix, Rosberg had won just three races to Hamilton's 10 and Lauda says he needed a win to pick himself up.
"I feel sorry for him because I know what it is like when you get blown off all the time," Lauda said. "The worst thing is when you screw a race up and the other guy is champion, it's the worst thing that can happen to a racing driver. Therefore it's good that this race was the other way round, so he gets his stability back and he will keep on fighting. For me the most important thing is these two guys push each other and if one does not push anymore the other one doesn't go as quick. This calibration now is back which I think is very good for the drivers and for us."
Lauda believes Rosberg fully deserved the victory and nipped in the bud any suggestions that Mercedes' conservative two-stop strategy, which Hamilton questioned at the time, was designed to help Rosberg.
"Nico drove better today, no question. Nico won the race, did a perfect job and was quicker than Lewis. Then there was maybe a discussion about pit stops. The strategy was to have one pit stop but then when we looked at the tyre wear and the safety we had to the third guy it was logic to make the second pit stop. Then the team decided we would do another pit stop. Then Lewis says 'why the hell do I have to do another pit stop?'
"The he came in the next lap, but it's simple to explain; the strategists sit on the pit wall and they take a decision. If the drivers like it or not, that's the way it is. But I don't think Lewis is upset, I'm just saying this might be the next question and I give you the answer right away."