Where’s Nico Rosberg gone?
The 2019 Azerbaijan Grand Prix had everything unfolding as per the normal or usual summary of the year. Mercedes were utterly in control. Ferraris, as one could see, struggled. Max Verstappen was running strongly in control of the top five in the race. Alfa Romeo’s Kimi Raikkonen was running ahead of his teammate. In the commentary box, David Croft was in his usual form behind the mic.
But in the paddock, a key figure was missing. That was Nico Rosberg, who had been banned from entering the Baku Street Circuit, located at the sprawling Baku Boulevard, Azerbaijan.
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Over the course of the past few seasons, Nico Rosberg, the former world champion of 2016 has offered his wisdom and earnest observations about a sport he excelled in. A regular at presentation ceremonies and pre-race driver interviews, Nico Rosberg, who cut a stylish figure at the 2017 Monaco Grand Prix, is now expected to return to the F1 paddock at this very venue after it was confirmed that he won’t be there at Spain either.
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So what happened and why’s this treatment being extended to the former Mercedes driver?
Nico Rosberg, as confirmed earlier by sources, happens to have a world champion pass, that is extended exclusively to drivers who hold the elite ticket. But at Baku, home to the Azerbaijan Grand Prix, Nico Roberg gave his personal pass to his cameraman, an action that attracted strict reprimand from the Formula 1 hierarchy.
The above was an action that is strictly forbidden by the team that lays down the framework and oversees the rules and regulations of Formula 1. That said, Nico Rosberg was immediately banned from entering the paddock at Baku, that held its fourth-ever F1 race.
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And that’s not all. It’s been confirmed that as a result of what Nico Rosberg did- perhaps something he may have done in pure goodwill without knowing the outcome of his action- the German has been banned from entering the Spanish Grand Prix of 2019 as well.
It is only Monaco, where one will get to see Rosberg resume his duties and where he’ll be seen amid the F1 fraternity- including the media pundits, drivers, and others.