We are all aware of the rivalry between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton especially that reached a peak in 2014 season as they battled for the driver’s championship which was undecided until the last race of the season. This is however not the first time both these drivers have faced each. Their rivalry as mentioned by Rosberg goes back to the time when they were 12 years old. Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton were childhood friends and rivals at the same time,as they raced for a team and fought for the championship.
Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg rivals since childhood
The duo reminds us of the great rivalry that peaked between Ayton Senna and Alain Prost. This rivalry between the two drivers emerged at the Spanish Grand Prix in May last year when Lewis after winning commented that he needed to find a way to break his team-mate’s mental strength. Nico Rosberg was quick to respond to this saying, “Break me down mentally? I think he will struggle with that one.”
Even as the exchange of words and jests between the two continued, the real beginning of the tension between them started at Monaco GP qualifying when Nico Rosberg took pole under controversial circumstances. During qualifying, Rosberg failed to move out of the racing line while Lewis was on a hot lap which denied the Brit an opportunity to better his previous lap time, challenging Rosberg’s pole position. Hamilton later on BBC Radio 5 live said, “People are always talking about friends. I can count my friends on one hand. I am sure Nico Rosberg can so same. I am not in his five and he is not in my five”.
Mercedes boss and a racing legend himself, Niki Lauda had said at one point about the two drivers that the tension has built up and there is no question about it, however, the team had to make sure the tension does not get out of hand. No one could better understand this situation than Niki Lauda himself, who has been involved in one of the greatest F1 rivalries with the English driver, James Hunt. An award winning and highly acclaimed movie “Rush” quiet accurately depicts their personalities and their F1 rivalry.
Both Lewis and Nico have very different driving styles. While Lewis is fast and takes chances, Nico is the one who is more stable and consistent. The duel between the two during the race keeps the team on the edge as the danger of crashing each other out cannot be dismissed. Both the drivers have already been warned previously by the team management to make it a point to finish the race and not get consumed in their ego during the race.
The Lewis and Nico rivalry is set to add more drama in the 2015 season just like last year’s. It is really a simple equation: Rosberg wants his first title and revenge for last year’s defeat while Hamilton is looking for his third title and keep a leash his childhood friend.
Tags: F1, Formula One, Lewis Hamilton, Monaco GP, Motorsport, Motorsports, Nico Rosberg, Spanish Grand Prix
