Nico Rosberg believes he and Lewis Hamilton will never become best friends, despite their relationship becoming more neutral since the German's retirement from Formula 1. Looking back at their intense Mercedes rivalry, Rosberg also explained why winning the 2016 Drivers' Championship was the right moment to walk away from the sport.
Key Highlights
- Nico Rosberg believes he and Lewis Hamilton will never become close friends despite improving relations after his retirement.
- Their Mercedes partnership from 2013 to 2016 featured several heated clashes, including incidents at the Austrian and Spanish Grands Prix.
- Rosberg retired just five days after winning the 2016 Drivers' Championship, beating Hamilton by five points.
- He explained that the intensity of his title-winning campaign made it unrealistic to maintain the same level of commitment for another season.
Rosberg Reflects On His Intense Rivalry With Hamilton
Rosberg and Hamilton shared one of Formula 1's most memorable rivalries, having known each other since their karting days before becoming Mercedes team-mates in 2013. Their relationship became increasingly strained over four seasons together, particularly during the 2016 campaign.
While Hamilton secured two world championships during their partnership, Rosberg claimed one, eventually beating the Briton by five points in their final season together. Their fierce competition also resulted in several costly clashes, including incidents at the Austrian and Spanish Grands Prix. Despite the tension, Rosberg achieved his ultimate goal by winning the 2016 Drivers' Championship.
Why Rosberg Decided To Retire After Winning The 2016 Title
Just five days after securing his maiden world championship, Rosberg stunned the F1 paddock by announcing his retirement. His decision opened the door for Valtteri Bottas to join Mercedes for the 2017 season.
Speaking on the latest episode of the official F1 Beyond The Grid podcast, Rosberg explained that he had pushed himself beyond his limits throughout the 2016 campaign and could not realistically maintain that intensity year after year. He also admitted that retiring immediately after achieving his childhood dream was the right decision, although he initially found the move frightening.
Mercedes Team Principal Toto Wolff accepted that Rosberg's decision was final, while former World Champion and Non-Executive Chairman Niki Lauda was reportedly more frustrated by the sudden announcement. Rosberg acknowledged that his retirement left Mercedes in a difficult position, as the team needed to find a replacement without much notice.
He explained that announcing his decision so quickly was intended to give the team enough time to rebuild its driver line-up. Although he would have preferred to spend more time celebrating his championship before revealing his retirement, he prioritised minimising the disruption to Mercedes.
Rosberg Recalls Hamilton's Team Orders Controversy In Abu Dhabi
Rosberg also looked back at the dramatic 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, where Hamilton attempted to slow the pace deliberately to bunch up the field and put pressure on his team-mate. With Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen closing in from behind, Hamilton's tactics created the risk of Mercedes losing the race victory.
The Briton did not follow the team's instructions to maintain the expected pace, making the championship battle even more tense. Rosberg acknowledged that Hamilton was understandably unwilling to simply hand him the championship, as both drivers were fighting for the biggest prize in the sport.
Although the situation was frustrating at the time, Rosberg now looks back on Hamilton's actions more positively, believing they made his eventual championship victory even more rewarding. He also recalled that the pair congratulated each other after their respective championship victories, despite the intense competition between them.
Hamilton And Rosberg Have A Neutral Relationship Today
Despite their difficult history, Rosberg confirmed that his relationship with Hamilton improved after he stepped away from Formula 1. He described their current relationship as neutral and said there was no longer the same tension between them.
However, Rosberg dismissed comparisons between their relationship and the famous rivalry between Ayrton Senna and Alain Prost, who eventually developed a friendship after Prost's sabbatical in 1992.
While Senna and Prost managed to build a friendship in their own way, Rosberg does not expect the same outcome with Hamilton. He remains comfortable with their current relationship, but believes the two former Mercedes team-mates are unlikely to ever become best friends.
