‘Lewis suspected a conspiracy’ – Nico Rosberg explains how Lewis Hamilton F1 rivalry went awry at Mercedes
When Lewis Hamilton joined Nico Rosberg at Mercedes for the 2013 Formula 1 season, it was a feel-good story: two long-time friends becoming team-mates. However, their amicable relationship soon turned sour, as Mercedes dominated the world championship’s early turbo hybrid era from 2014 and title battles turned into intra-team duels. The first signs of tension appeared early, and in the ... Keep…
In 2013, Nico Rosberg joined Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes for the Formula 1 season, forming a once-amicable friendship as long-time teammates. However, their relationship quickly deteriorated as Mercedes dominated the early turbo hybrid era and title battles turned into internal rivalries. The tension between the two began to escalate early on, culminating in Rosberg colliding with Hamilton in the 2014 Belgian Grand Prix.
The rivalry became even more intense in the grandstands, with fans booing Hamilton after his race was ended by Rosberg's actions. Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff made a drastic decision ahead of the 2016 season, switching mechanics and engineers between the two cars to break the negative spiral of conflict. Rosberg recounted feeling like his "family" had been switched, as his mechanics were now working on Hamilton's car.
Although this decision initially prevented further drama, Rosberg's teammate Lewis struggled with the change and began to question his performance, often attributing his setbacks to a "conspiracy." Despite Mercedes' efforts, the rivalry persisted, leading to two high-profile collisions between Rosberg and Hamilton in 2016, ultimately resulting in Rosberg clinching his maiden and final F1 title in the season's opening four rounds.
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