Nico Rosberg STILL HATES Lewis Hamilton Because of THIS

Summary

The video script delves into the intense rivalry between former Mercedes teammates Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg, highlighting their contrasting backgrounds and the escalating tension that culminated in Rosberg's 2016 championship win and subsequent retirement. It explores their childhood friendship, competitive spirit, and the strategic and personal conflicts that marked their time at Mercedes, including Rosberg's perceived underhanded tactics and Hamilton's struggles with racism and engine issues. The narrative also touches on Rosberg's post-retirement commentary and the ongoing impact of their rivalry on their perspectives and the F1 community.

Takeaways

• 🏎️ Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton had a long-standing rivalry, which has persisted even after their time as teammates at Mercedes.
• 💰 Rosberg turned down a $100 million offer due to his animosity towards Hamilton, highlighting the depth of their personal conflict.
• 👶 Both drivers had different upbringings and backgrounds, which may have contributed to their divergent approaches and attitudes towards racing.
• 🏆 Hamilton faced racism and financial struggles early in his career, which motivated him to excel on the track, while Rosberg had the advantage of his father's legacy and financial support.
• 🤝 Rosberg and Hamilton were childhood friends and karting rivals, with a competitive spirit that followed them into Formula 1.
• 🏁 Their rivalry intensified during the 2014 and 2016 seasons, marked by on-track incidents and strategic maneuvers that further strained their relationship.
• 🥇 Rosberg's 2016 championship win was a significant moment, as it came amidst a backdrop of fierce competition with Hamilton and engine issues that affected the latter.
• 🛑 Rosberg's retirement after winning the championship was unexpected and signified the end of their direct competition, but not the rivalry.
• 🧠 Rosberg's analytical skills and feedback to engineers were highly valued, and he continued to be involved in F1 as an analyst after his retirement.
• 🔧 Hamilton's struggles in 2022 with an undriveable Mercedes car were criticized by Rosberg, who suggested that the team was covering for Hamilton's performance issues.
• 🔄 The ongoing tension between Rosberg and Hamilton is evident in their public comments and interactions, with Rosberg still expressing strong opinions about Hamilton's capabilities and decisions.

Q & A

Why did Nico Rosberg decline a $100 million offer?

Nico Rosberg declined the offer because of his ongoing animosity towards Lewis Hamilton, with whom he has a deep-seated rivalry and personal dislike.

What was the nature of the rivalry between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during their time at Mercedes?

Their rivalry started as a healthy competition but quickly escalated into a fierce and intense one, culminating in 2016 with Rosberg's championship win and subsequent retirement.

How did the childhood friendship between Hamilton and Rosberg turn into a rivalry?

Their childhood friendship turned into a rivalry due to their competitive nature and different upbringings, which led to a strained relationship as they both pursued success in Formula 1.

What challenges did Lewis Hamilton face in his early racing career?

Lewis Hamilton faced racism as he was the only black driver in the early stages of his racing career, dealing with societal prejudices that were not as 'liberated' as they are today.

What was the background of Nico Rosberg's upbringing compared to Lewis Hamilton's?

Nico Rosberg grew up in Monaco, attended world-class international schools, and had the financial support of his father, Keke Rosberg, a former F1 champion. In contrast, Lewis Hamilton, from a working-class family in the UK, had to overcome financial struggles to pursue his racing dreams.

How did the 2014 season impact the relationship between Hamilton and Rosberg?

The 2014 season intensified their rivalry, with incidents like Rosberg's 'locking up' at the Mirabeau corner in Monaco and their collision at the Belgian GP, which led to a further deterioration of their relationship.

Why did Nico Rosberg retire immediately after winning his first F1 championship?

Nico Rosberg felt overwhelmed by the pressure of racing against Hamilton and the demands of the sport, which led him to drift away from his family and personal priorities, prompting his retirement.

What role did psychology and mental training play in Rosberg's approach to racing against Hamilton?

Rosberg hired a psychologist and mental trainer to help him cope with the mental stress of competing against Hamilton and to be in the right mental condition to challenge him effectively.

How has Rosberg's post-racing career involvement in F1 been?

After retiring, Rosberg has been involved in F1 as an analyst, often commenting on Hamilton's performances and engaging in public disagreements with him, indicating that their rivalry continues off the track.

What was the situation with Mercedes in 2022 that Rosberg commented on?

In 2022, Mercedes was struggling with performance issues, with team principal Toto Wolff describing the car as 'undriveable.' Rosberg suggested that Wolff might be covering for Hamilton's poor performances by blaming the car.

How did Rosberg's rivalry with Hamilton affect other drivers, such as Valtteri Bottas?

The intense rivalry set by Hamilton and Rosberg's performances created a high standard that other drivers, like Valtteri Bottas, found hard to meet, leading Bottas to consider quitting F1 due to the pressure.

Outlines

00:00

🏎️ Rivalry and Resentment: The Hamilton-Rosberg Saga

This paragraph delves into the intense rivalry between Formula 1 drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during their time at Mercedes from 2010 to 2016. It highlights Rosberg's refusal of a $100 million offer due to his animosity towards Hamilton and explores the origins of their conflict. The summary touches on their childhood friendship, their competitive nature, and the stark differences in their backgrounds and early racing experiences. It also discusses the impact of their rivalry on their careers, Rosberg's strategic moves during races, and the culmination of their tension in 2016 when Rosberg won his first championship before retiring, leaving unresolved issues between them.

05:00

🏆 Rosberg's Championship and Post-Racing Commentary

The second paragraph focuses on Nico Rosberg's 2016 championship win, which was largely attributed to Hamilton's engine issues. It outlines Rosberg's decision to retire immediately after securing the title, revealing his mental preparation involving a psychologist and mental trainer to overcome Hamilton. The summary also covers Rosberg's post-retirement activities as an F1 analyst, his critical comments on Hamilton's performance, and the implications of George Russell's consistent results in comparison. It discusses Rosberg's views on team dynamics, his reaction to Hamilton's comments about Valtteri Bottas, and speculations about Mercedes' potential shift in driver priorities, reflecting the ongoing tension and Rosberg's unresolved rivalry with Hamilton.

Keywords

💡Rivalry

Rivalry refers to a competitive relationship characterized by opposing interests or goals. In the context of the video, it highlights the intense competition between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg during their time as teammates at Mercedes. Their rivalry was not only on the track but also extended to their personal lives, as evidenced by Rosberg turning down a $100 million offer due to his animosity towards Hamilton.

💡Championship

A championship is the title or trophy awarded to the winner of a competition or series of contests. In the video, it is mentioned that Rosberg won his maiden championship in 2016, which was a pivotal moment in his career and his rivalry with Hamilton. The championship win also marked the culmination of their fierce competition within Mercedes.

💡Grudge

A grudge is a long-held resentment or hostility due to a past insult or injury. The video script indicates that both Hamilton and Rosberg are still holding grudges against each other, stemming from their competitive and tumultuous time as teammates. Rosberg's decision to retire after winning the championship can be seen as an attempt to leave the grudges behind.

💡Childhood Friends

The term childhood friends refers to individuals who have known each other and maintained a friendship since their early years. The video script reveals that Hamilton and Rosberg were childhood friends who raced together since their junior days, which adds a layer of complexity to their rivalry as they transitioned from friends to fierce competitors.

💡Racism

Racism is the belief in the inherent superiority of one race over another, which often results in discrimination and prejudice. The video mentions that Hamilton, being the only black driver at the time, had to deal with racism in his early racing career. This context shows the additional challenges he faced beyond the competitive aspects of the sport.

💡Turbo-Hybrid Regulations

Turbo-hybrid regulations refer to the technical rules introduced in Formula 1 racing that require cars to use a combination of a traditional internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The video discusses the 2014 season when Mercedes and its drivers, including Hamilton and Rosberg, had to adapt to these new regulations, which played a significant role in their performance and rivalry.

💡Teammate

A teammate is a member of the same team or group in a sport or other activity. In the video, the relationship between Hamilton and Rosberg as teammates at Mercedes is a central theme. Their dynamic as teammates was marked by intense competition, which ultimately led to a strained personal relationship.

💡Psychologist

A psychologist is a professional who studies the human mind and behavior. The video mentions that Rosberg hired a psychologist and a mental trainer to help him cope with the pressure of racing against Hamilton. This shows the mental and emotional toll the rivalry took on Rosberg and the lengths he went to in order to compete at the highest level.

💡Retirement

Retirement refers to the act of withdrawing from one's career or profession. Rosberg's decision to retire after winning the 2016 championship is a key point in the video. His retirement was not only a personal choice but also a way to end the intense rivalry with Hamilton on his terms.

💡Performance

Performance in the context of the video refers to the outcomes and results achieved by the drivers in races. The script discusses the varying performance levels of Hamilton and Rosberg, as well as other drivers like Valtteri Bottas and George Russell, in relation to their ability to compete with or outperform Hamilton.

💡Mental Condition

Mental condition refers to an individual's psychological state, which can affect their ability to perform under pressure. The video highlights how Rosberg sought to improve his mental condition through the help of a psychologist and mental trainer to better compete against Hamilton, emphasizing the importance of mental strength in high-stakes racing.

Highlights

Nico Rosberg turned down a $100 million offer due to his animosity towards Lewis Hamilton.

The rivalry between Hamilton and Rosberg dates back to their childhood and competitive racing days.

Lewis Hamilton's working-class background and the racism he faced in his early racing career.

Nico Rosberg's privileged upbringing and the support from his F1 champion father, Keke Rosberg.

The contrasting beginnings of Hamilton and Rosberg's racing careers and their time as Mercedes teammates.

Dino Chiesa's observation of Hamilton's speed advantage and Rosberg's analytical skills during their karting days.

The 2014 F1 season where Mercedes dominated with Hamilton and Rosberg as teammates.

Rosberg's controversial tactics during the 2014 Monaco GP that led to a strained relationship with Hamilton.

Hamilton's and Rosberg's intense 2016 season, culminating in Rosberg's championship win and subsequent retirement.

Rosberg's use of a psychologist and mental trainer to compete with Hamilton, highlighting the mental demands of F1 racing.

Rosberg's post-retirement commentary on Hamilton's performance and his continued involvement in F1 discussions.

The impact of Mercedes' 2022 performance struggles and how it affected the narrative around Hamilton and his teammates.

Rosberg's criticism of Hamilton's performance and his support for George Russell's consistent results.

The comparison between Rosberg's and Bottas's experiences as Hamilton's teammates and their different reactions.

Rosberg's speculation on Mercedes' potential decision regarding their #1 driver in light of Russell's performance.

The lasting impact of the 2016 Barcelona GP crash on the Hamilton-Rosberg rivalry.

Bottas's recent admission of considering quitting F1 due to the challenge of outperforming Hamilton.

Transcripts

The infamous Mercedes pair of drivers from 2010 to 2016 still hate each other till this

day.

In fact, Nico Rosberg backed out from a $100 million offer just because he hates Hamilton.

That’s how much he doesn’t want to have anything to do with the 7-time world champion.

So what exactly transpired between both of them at Mercedes, and how did these two childhood

friends turn into enemies?

Stay tuned to find out.

They started with a healthy rivalry, and things quickly turned out to be very competitive

and fierce on the track, as it all culminated in 2016.

In 2016, Lewis managed to lose out to Rosberg, as the German retired right after winning

his maiden championship.

It seems like both of them are still holding grudges against each other, as Rosberg doesn’t

want to let go of some things that happened between them.

First of all, it’s worth mentioning that these two drivers were really close childhood

friends, as they’ve raced together since their junior days.

Both of them were very competitive against each other, as Robert Kubica once said, and

they would even fight about who would finish the pizza first or who would have a second

slice faster.

However, this was a healthy rivalry, to say the least, as the drivers also come from very

different environments.

Lewis was born in Stevenage, UK, and his family was working class.

His father, Anthony Hamilton, had to work four jobs in order to make enough money so

that Lewis could pursue his dreams.

However, one problem that Hamilton faced during his early stages of racing was that he was

the only black driver, often dealing with racism.

Society back then wasn’t as "liberated" as it is now regarding minorities, which Hamilton

had to learn the hard way.

Lewis was told to do his "talking on the track," so that is exactly what he did, as he was

able to dominate every single specter of the championships he’s competed in.

On the other hand, you have Nico Rosberg.

He was born in Germany but grew up in Monaco.

He traveled a lot and attended world-class international schools, something that Hamilton

would have dreamt of at his age.

Rosberg’s father was a proven F1 driver and a championship winner in 1982, Keke Rosberg.

So, apart from the passion and love for racing, Keke was the main investor in Nico, making

sure that he wouldn’t have to struggle with the financial part of racing.

Rosberg made his debut one year prior to Hamilton in 2006 in Williams, while Hamilton was part

of the McLaren young drivers’ program, as he joined the sport in 2007.

As a result, both of the drivers had very different beginnings in this sport, and this

is a significant difference between them, as they later went on to be teammates in Mercedes.

Nico Rosberg and Hamilton became teammates in MBM in the 2000 season, it was the first

time they became one.

MBM is a kart team sponsored by Mercedes-Benz and McLaren.

They had the same manager, Dino Chiesa, who said that Hamilton was much faster than Rosberg,

but Nico managed to compensate with his brain and his constant feedback to the engineers

about what could be improved in the car.

And this isn’t really a secret, as the F1 world always saw Rosberg as the one that would

follow in the footsteps of Schumacher when it comes to analysis and feedback to the engineers.

This is one of the reasons why Rosberg opted out of the analytic job after his racing career

abruptly ended in 2016.

Ever since they were in karting, they had these "beefs" between each other.

Dino Chiesa shared one story where he had to pay the hotel bill after they threw each

other's bed linens off the windows.

However, the 2014 season was the one that really brought out the best in these two drivers,

as they were set to adapt to the new turbo-hybrid regulations.

Mercedes seems to have found the best adaptation, but both of the drivers were equally good,

meaning that the team had to let them race fair and square most of the time.

In the first season of the turbo-hybrid era, Mercedes won 16 out of 19 races, as Hamilton

won 11 and Nico Rosberg won 5.

One ex-executive of Mercedes said that the team was purposely holding down the pace so

that they wouldn’t face repercussions from their rivals.

If they dominated too much, the FIA might have intervened and changed regulations right

after they introduced the new ones!

Yeah, Mercedes was that powerful!

In 2013, Rosberg won the Monaco GP, and was looking to do the same in 2014.

However, due to the power of the car and how both of the drivers were so close to each

other, some dirty tactics needed to be used.

Such was the case with Rosberg, as he "locked up" at the Mirabeau corner, which was indeed

a smart tactic because the cars behind him would have to slow down due to the yellow

flags, as Rosberg swung the car left and into the slip road.

He had the provisional pole prior to this incident, and he would start from the pole

position the next day.

Rosberg also won the 2014 Monaco GP, joining the company of Senna in winning consecutive

times here in Monaco.

After a long investigation, the stewards decided to not punish Rosberg as he wasn’t at fault,

which in the eyes of Hamilton wasn’t really sitting right.

From there on, the relationship just got worse.

At the Belgian GP, Rosberg’s front wing collided with Hamilton’s car, as the Briton

had to retire due to terminal damage to his car.

Meanwhile, Rosberg pitted, and his car was able to be fixed, so he climbed all the way

back to P2.

All this, and he still failed to win the championship in 2014.

2016 was the year that Rosberg won his championship, as he had the advantage mainly because of

the engine issues that Hamilton had.

The year was yet again dominated by Mercedes, with the competition nowhere to be seen.

After their fierce battle in 2016, everybody expected Rosberg to resign from Mercedes and

continue the domination for many more years alongside Hamilton.

However, this wasn’t the case, as the German decided to retire right after winning his

maiden and only championship.

Rosberg admitted that right after he crossed the line in the final race in Abu Dhabi in

2016, he had already made up his mind about his retirement.

But racing Hamilton wasn’t really easy for Rosberg, as he hired a psychologist and a

mental trainer to put himself in the right mental condition to beat Hamilton.

Yes, that is how much it takes to beat a dedicated and motivated F1 champion in Hamilton!

However, Nico felt as if the glass had already begun to overflow, and he felt as if he was

drifting away from what was most important to him, his family.

Therefore, he decided that enough is enough, he’s proven his point, and the championship

is in his locker room.

But Nico hasn't completely "given up" on F1!

He has been back in the sport as an analyst and has spoken multiple times about Lewis

Hamilton as his teammate.

For example, in 2022, Mercedes is struggling a lot to perform as we’ve been used to in

the last 8 years.

Therefore, Toto Wolff has said multiple times that the car is undriveable and they are really

far away from what they want to achieve.

But with that same car, Russell has been able to achieve constant results, as prior to Silverstone,

he was the only driver to finish in the Top 5 in every race so far.

Apart from him, Hamilton has had some really bad finishes, like P10 in Jeddah and P14 in

Emilia Romagna in Italy.

Rosberg had his share of thoughts on this opinion, as he believes that Wolff is purposely

covering for Hamilton’s bad performance, blaming it all on the car.

He also motivated Russell with some encouraging words and with the result that he absolutely

outperformed his teammate in Emilia Romagna.

Another situation is when Hamilton called Bottas his best teammate so far, as Rosberg

took offense, firing back at Hamilton.

Rosberg said that Hamilton only preferred Bottas because he was super useful and never

really challenged him for the championship fight, something that Rosberg did.

Rosberg also spoke about Russell’s dominant performance and if that could raise some concerns

in Mercedes regarding sacking Hamilton or picking their new #1 driver.

It’s safe to say that Rosberg is still very angry with Hamilton and hasn’t let go of

their rivalry.

It was quite a juicy one, as we remember how the 2016 Barcelona GP ended with the infamous

crash, as both of them finished without points.

This was the race where Verstappen debuted for Red Bull, as he managed to win his first

career GP for the team.

Considering the fact that Rosberg has visited a psychologist and a mental trainer just to

beat Hamilton, you can’t blame the German for still holding a grudge against Hamilton.

The case was similar with Bottas, as the Finn said recently in an interview that he even

considered quitting F1 just because he couldn’t outperform Hamilton, as he finally found the

groove in 2018.

Yet, it wasn’t enough for a championship drive, nowhere near close to Hamilton and

his class!

As for Rosberg, we can only imagine what would’ve happened if he stayed in the sport for many

more years!

Check out the next video here!

Take care and drive safely!