Nico Rosberg defends George Russell attack on Max Verstappen: 'Take this, sucker'

2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg has stated George Russell's act of braking behind the safety car was a response to Max Verstappen being “cheeky”.

Towards the end of the Canadian Grand Prix, a safety car was deployed following a clash between McLaren team-mates Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

Russell held the lead ahead of Verstappen, but the Red Bull driver briefly moved ahead of his rival when Russell suddenly hit the brakes.

It prompted a post-race appeal from Red Bull, who took issue with Russell's driving - however the protest was ultimately thrown out by the stewards.

Offering a perspective from a driver's point of view, Rosberg has detailed lingering in the mirrors is not taken kindly by other competitors.

“When you're [behind] a safety car and you see Max Verstappen being cheeky and trying to make you nervous by making himself really big right next to you in that mirror, in the exact spot where the mirror is facing, you don't like that,” Rosberg told Sky F1.

“It really annoys you as a driver, like deeply, deeply annoys you. From there, it’s quite natural to say: ‘You know what? Take this you sucker.’

“So yes, he did want to hit the brakes and give one back to Max there.”

The F1 stewards judged Russell did not drive erratically, ensuring he kept his fourth career win.

Rosberg even suggested the decision to appeal the race result was pushed by Verstappen.

“I think also the fact that Red Bull appealed, it wouldn't surprise me if that was pushed by Max,” he added.

“Max got angry that George hit the brakes and tried to get him into a penalty situation. 

“So Max was like 'I'm not having that'. Let's ask his team to appeal to try and get him into George in trouble. 

“It wouldn't surprise me. So we're seeing the cat and mouse games continue, which is good.”