Mercedes to hold talks over “too hard” Hamilton move

Hamilton and Rosberg ran side-by-side into Turn 1 at Austin, but Hamilton forced his German team-mate wide at the apex and exit of the corner with a move that his rival labelled as 'extremely aggressive.'

It was those actions at the first corner, when they briefly touched wheels, that were believed to have contributed to Rosberg's dark mood after the race – and prompted him to throw a cap back at Hamilton in the pre-podium room. 

Discussions needed

Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff said that Rosberg had every right to be upset, and said once the heat of the weekend had died down, that the team would sit down with Hamilton to discuss matters.

“I think he [Rosberg] has reason to be upset for that particular incident,” Wolff told Motorsport.com. “It was too hard and we need to pick it up and discuss it.

“During the race I was happier because emotionally the race panned out for Nico to win it, and that would have recovered the situation finally.

“But Nico made that one mistake that cost him the race win. So I think it is important that we sit down in a couple of days and discuss it – because we don't want it to escalate in to something bigger.”

Title success still main focus

Although admitting that the incident was worthy of post-race discussions, Wolff did want to make clear that the incident should not overshadow Hamilton's title success.

“It is the moment we have won the world championship, but I think it needs talking about,” he said.  

“I don't want to take anything away from Lewis, as he deserves the title. Reducing our discussion now to that one incident is not right.

“But obviously we need to talk about it a certain stage.”