Awkward! 'Sour kraut' Nico Rosberg throws cap at Lewis Hamilton after losing the US Grand Prix

Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has been labelled a “sour kraut” by fans on Twitter after he had a “slight” altercation with teammate Lewis Hamilton right after the Briton won a historic third world title.

Rosberg, who started on pole at the US Grand Prix in Austin, led most of the race only to lose it all with just eight laps to go thanks to an unforced error. Rosberg went a little too wide, Hamilton took the lead and went on to win the race and the title.

Hamilton is now part of the select band of Formula One drivers to win three world titles and the few others to do so are Jackie Stewart, Ayrton Senna, Nelson Piquet and Niki Lauda.

The German was visibly annoyed and frustrated after the race, first throwing a cap back at Hamilton in the driver’s room. He also refused to shake Hamilton’s hand, and then didn’t take part in the champagne spraying on the podium and unfortunately for the German, this little tantrum was broadcast live world over.

Watch the hat throwing incident here: 

The German wasn’t exactly kind to his teammate at the post-race press conference and was visibly irritated.

“Turn one for sure was very aggressive,” Rosberg said at the post-race press conference . He went on to add, “What am I going to say? I haven’t even seen it again, so how the hell … I can’t comment, I need to see it as always."

Rosberg also accused his teammate of being too aggressive on the track, “For sure it was extremely aggressive. We hit each other, or I would say Lewis came into me, so obviously that’s not good, but I cannot say more than that.”

Expectedly, Twitterati weren’t very amused by the German driver and had this to say:

@Ste_F1 Rosberg is a sour kraut! LITERALLY!

— André M (@adroome) October 25, 2015

@CroftyF1 think this sums up Nico Rosberg #askcrofty pic.twitter.com/E5uOjUrUjf

— Andy Fishburne (@andyfishburne) October 25, 2015

A silent, introverted @nico_rosberg stands alone on the podium as he reflects on a second successive title defeat. pic.twitter.com/M3nfdlf9K7

— Motorsport Images (@MSI_Images) October 25, 2015

Ouch @TelegraphSport https://t.co/lTNIUUvy1H pic.twitter.com/ogIAZ1eAXK

— Darren Cleary (@RadioCleary) October 25, 2015

I wish we'd have the Texan cowboy hats! @nico_rosberg 's hat fling would have looked so much more dramatic! #F1

— Mith M (@mith_m) October 25, 2015

Nico Rosberg cares not for your 2nd place hat, Lewis. #Formula1 #CmonLewis #Petronas pic.twitter.com/r3mNSMYfZ2

— Matt Lowry (@MLowryy_) October 25, 2015