Retired Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg has criticized former Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Valtteri Bottas for defending 'soft' against Red Bull in the closing stages of Sunday's French Grand Prix.
The German took aim after being passed by race winner and championship leader Max Verstappen at Le Castellet, as Sky Sports televised pundit said.
Rosberg told the audience, "Valtteri did a crap job, honestly, in defense because he blocked something completely unnecessary, he braked too late and went straight, so Max had such an easy time. "
"Maybe he would have passed anyway, but at least he had to spend a little more lap time. It wasn't a very good defense and could have been done smarter."
Verstappen had made a second pitstop and had to pass Bottas to overtake the Finn's seven-time world champion teammate Lewis Hamilton for the win, then running into second.
When Verstappen caught up with Hamilton and made a move on the final lap, the Briton didn't offer much resistance, even on tires that had worn out to the limit.
"Shut the damn door, no?," said 2016 champion Rosberg of Hamilton's response.
"Usually Lewis is the best one-to-one racer and I'm surprised he didn't try. At least try, brake late and try to keep him out. A little softer than Lewis, somehow."
Red Bull boss Christian Horner, however, praised Hamilton.
"I have to say Lewis was very fair with the pass, he didn't defend hard or aggressively and it was a very clean move," he said.
Hamilton, who finished runner-up on the one-stop strategy, explained that there was little he could have done.
"If he hadn't passed me there, he would have passed me straight after, so it would have made zero difference and I didn't have a front end, so he would have got me anyway," said the Briton.
"It was pointless to defend any hard. I think you saw what happened to Valtteri - he went straight ahead. So, there was no point in screwing up the tyres."