An incorrectly set engine mode switch on Nico Rosberg’s steering wheel at the start of the Spanish Grand Prix lead to the dramatic retirement of both Mercedes W07s on the opening lap of the race.
The shunt between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton in Barcelona highlights not only the complexity of the current cars from a drivers perspective but also the variance in steering wheel layout between the two Mercedes drivers.

Comparing Hamilton’s wheel (above) with Rosberg’s (below) the differences are clear to see, barely any of the buttons are located in the same positions and most of the rotary switches differ too. The main strategy rotary is the same for both, while Hamilton has his power unit mode selected on the right hand rotary marked ‘HPP’ the functionality on Rosberg’s version is different.
At Barcelona the two Mercedes drivers set their cars into a ‘launch mode’ a power unit mapping setting that ensures the best getaway and ERS deployment off the line. As usual coming out of turn 3 both drivers went to select ‘race mode’ but for some reason Rosberg failed to select his mode properly and ended up losing power as the ERS appeared to go into a recovery mode at the wrong point. To regain power Rosberg hit the overtake button (top left ? orange button marked OT) and moved to cover Hamilton, but by this point he had a 16kph deficit to the Englishman and the two collided. It seems likely that Rosberg had one of ...