Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri ‘traumatised’ by ‘divebombing’ Max Verstappen

Nico Rosberg has remarkably insisted that Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri are "traumatised" by the thought of Max Verstappen attempting an opening corner "divebomb". 

The Dutchman starts third for the Spanish Grand Prix, behind pole sitter Piastri and Norris on the front row. 

With the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya boasting a long run into the first corner, the expectation based on recent races in Spain is that Verstappen will go for the lead of the race immediately. 

Verstappen attempted it last season; however, George Russell swept around the outside from fourth on the grid to move to the front. 

Both McLaren drivers have a recent history of being overtaken by the four-time world champion in the first corner of a race, most recently Piastri in Imola. 

As a result, Rosberg expects both to be terrified of battling the Red Bull driver into the first corner.

When asked on Sky F1 if Piastri would even want to be on pole, the 2016 world champion answered: "No, of course, you want to be on pole, but at the same time you have Max Verstappen right behind you. 

"That's always so uncomfortable to have Verstappen behind you. Always, and especially both McLaren drivers by now, are traumatised by Max Verstappen. 

"There's also Piastri, Verstappen had him in Turn 1 in Melbourne, he had him in Imola. He's had Norris, I think the last 10 times. Both of them are scared. 

"And you underestimate it, really you're scared then, because you see this guy again behind you, and you know he's going to divebomb it and try it. And you're just really scared."