Formula 1: Former Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg has revealed that his relationship with the seven-time F1 champion Lewis Hamilton has ‘returned to neutral’ several years after their fierce battle on track for the F1 title. Follow Formula 1 and French GP LIVE updates with InsideSport.IN
According to Rosberg, their relationship fell apart as soon as Mercedes provided them with a car that could fight for the title. “It happened immediately when we were fighting for the World Championship. Not before. But that’s always the case: when you’re fighting for success in every race and for titles, it doesn’t work anymore,” Rosberg said.
Rosberg was asked whether there was a specific trigger or occasion that prompted inconvenience. “No, it’s been a build-up from one race to the next. If you want to decide the World Championship for yourself, you can’t play ‘peace, joy, pancake’. You have to test limits and go into grey areas to win. Especially when two drivers are at such a high level, and then it often gets tight,” Rosberg added.
Meanwhile, Rosberg and Hamilton became companions as they grew up together in karting, prior to advancing to F1 and sharing the podium for the first time since 2008.
In 2013, their motor racing professions entwined further when they collaborated at Mercedes. But soon things went from good to worse as Mercedes made a car which was the fastest overall.
As Mercedes gained a sudden advantage over their F1 rivals under the 2014 guidelines reset, Rosberg and Hamilton wound up in their very own battle at the front.
One of the 2016 flashpoints was a dramatic crash at the Spanish Grand Prix, eliminating both drivers from the race. Rosberg made things clear six years after the crash by saying, “I don’t regret anything. It was a sensational time and a mega fight. I’m very proud of that. In the meantime, we’ve returned to [a] neutral [relationship], which is okay.”
“Oh no…”
“Ohhh! Ohhhh!”The Barcelona crowd reacts to THAT crash 💥#SpanishGP 🇪🇸 #F1 pic.twitter.com/WJ62NWVWaB
— Formula 1 (@F1) May 10, 2017
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