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MONTE CARLO, Monaco - Nico Rosberg furrowed his brows on Wednesday ((May 20) when told about team mate Lewis Hamilton's Monaco 2015 GP race strategy.
Hamilton, in Monte Carlo in 2014, accused his Mercedes team mate of deliberately ruining his qualifying lap and chance for pole.
For 2015 Hamilton has reportedly declared that the decision has been made-and-sanctioned for him to run first in Q3 on Saturday (May 23).
NO REPEAT OF 2014 MISHAP
Hamilton said: "I do have the choice this year, which is good, I'm confident that 2014's episode will not re-occur so I don't feel pressured either way."
However, when told Hamilton was in charge of qualifying strategy, Rosberg furrowed his brows. "Really? That's interesting," the German was quoted as saying by Speed Week. "In the light of what happened in 2014, I can understand the decision."
However, could Rosberg also understand Mercedes' decision to reportedly pay Hamilton a figure (reportedly R1,2-billion) for 2016 and beyond that dwarfs his own annual retainer?
ROSBERG HAPPY WITH CONTRACT
Rosberg insisted: "I'm very happy with my contract. I've read about the numbers in the media but from personal experience I know those numbers are very often far from reality."
Rosberg was also confident that, in the light of Hamilton's allegedly huge new deal, he will not be slipped into No.2 status. "The team will always treat us equally," he said, "otherwise it wouldn't work. The team works very hard that we always get the same opportunities."
Rosberg won the previous two Monaco GP's. The German, on Thursday (May 21), posted an image on his Instagram account with the caption: "Stunning pic by the team photographers! Hammer foto #MonacoGP @mercedesamgf1"
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