Italy backs Rosberg over FIA penalty

Aug.2 - The Italian media has backed Nico Rosberg after he was penalised for an overtaking move on Max Verstappen at Hockenheim.

"Lewis (Hamilton) knows," Dutch teen Verstappen smiled after the German grand prix, referring to what happened between the Mercedes teammates in Austria.

The stewards levied a penalty against German Rosberg at Hockenheim, ruling that he drove Verstappen off the track.

Even Mercedes team chairman Niki Lauda didn't mind the penalty.

"I understand it's a 50-50 decision because he (Rosberg) went too wide," he said.

Ironically, it was the normally Ferrari-supporting Italian media who lashed out at the FIA's reaction.

"Rosberg's penalty was nonsense," said Giorgio Terruzzi, writing for Corriere della Sera.

"The fact is that Nico cheated Max, but this is a race."

La Gazzetta dello Sport's Umberto Zapelloni agreed: "We have too little overtaking anyway, so this should not be punished."

And Autosprint editor Alberto Sabbatini said sarcastically: "I suggest to Charlie Whiting that, in future, cars instead drive one at a time against the clock like in downhill skiing."

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