NICO ROSBERG has called on Formula One fans to "forgive and forget" after being booed on the podium for the second successive race.

The heckling had been sparked by his collision with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton at the Belgian Grand Prix, which led to him retiring.

After the race at Spa Rosberg suggested it was "the British people" who had turned against him.

But the scenes following the Italian Grand Prix on Sunday confirmed it was not just his closest rival's countrymen against him.

The German driver was jeered as he stood beside winner Hamilton at Monza and was presented with his runner-up prize.

Being cast in the role of villain, when for so long he has been viewed as a nice guy, is clearly a concern for Rosberg.

"It's obviously not nice but I hope that, with time, they forgive and forget," he said. "That would be great. I have apologised, I can't really do anything more than that."

Even Hamilton, who has been booed himself in Italy in the past, said it felt "awkward" to hear his team-mate being heckled.

Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff has called on the fans to lay off his driver, who he feels is being affected by the situation.

"First of all, there shouldn't be any booing on the podium," insisted Wolff. "That's for the top three guys who have had a mega-race and, whoever it is, there shouldn't be booing. We're a sport, and sport should unite.

"Does it take a toll on you? Yeah, you have to be pretty tough. Maybe it's something you need to survive if you want to make it to the top."