Lewis Hamilton should be 'disciplined' by Mercedes over Nico Rosberg crash, says Sir Jackie Stewart

Sir Jackie Stewart has called on Mercedes to ‘discipline’ Lewis Hamilton for the accident that wiped out both Mercedes in Sunday’s Spanish Grand Prix.

Hamilton escaped without censure from the stewards after he collided with Nico Rosberg when the German blocked his over-taking move on the first lap.

But Stewart, the only Briton other than Hamilton to have won three world titles, said: ‘It was all emotion. First lap. Desperation. That’s not the way to win, not consistently. Hamilton is to blame. Rosberg is allowed to protect himself. You don’t go for it on the first lap.

Mercedes team-mates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg collided on the first lap at the Spanish Grand Prix

Three-time Grand Prix winner Sir Jackie Stewart said that Hamilton was to blame and should be punished

Hamilton stands next to his car after being forced to retire from the Spanish Grand Prix in Barcelona

‘It’s just completely wrong. And then to throw the steering wheel out of the car. Probably £30,000-£40,000 of steering wheel.

‘It’s difficult for them to leave Lewis out for a race when they need to win the world championship. But there does need to be discipline.

‘I would certainly have penalised the driver who made that mistake on the first lap. It would have to be financial. But Lewis is making such a lot of money that it might not be a big penalty to him.’

Mercedes, however, will resist the urge to penalise Hamilton, who trails Rosberg by 43 points.

Team chairman Niki Lauda said the ‘matter is over’ after Hamilton apologised. ‘There is nothing left for me to do,’ he added. ‘We do not need clear-the-air talks. We just hope for no mistakes in future. 

Rosberg was a picture of frustration on Sunday as he and Hamilton crashed out at the Spanish GP