2016 Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has admitted that he hopes to one day be friends again with former teammate Lewis Hamilton, allowing time to be the healer. The two were good friends from a very young age, as they raced karts and cars on the same field.
However, things turned sour after they became teammates at Mercedes. For three consecutive years, the pair battled for the world championship relentlessly, clashing on-track a number of times. With Rosberg no longer competing in F1, he hopes that one day he will have a healthy relationship with Hamilton again.
Answering questions from Twitter on his YouTube channel, the German was asked how did he keep his cool in the team, and if Hamilton was as "annoying" away from the cameras.
"How did I keep my cool in the team? That's what I was racing for, that sort of battle. It doesn't get better than that, to battle against one of the best of all-time in the same car as you, awesome. And then to come out beating him in the very end, better than that is not possible.
"That's why it gave me such fulfilment also for my career. It couldn't have ended in a better way, and the opponent counts in that. And is Lewis as annoying? We were really good friends back in the day, and I still have a lot of respect for him and always will have.
"In private he's a good guy. Of course it's always different the way you get perceived on camera and the way you are in that big F1 world, but in private I can say he's a really good guy with some good values and everything. So I hope maybe with time one day we can get back to getting on better."
Replies (7)
Login to replyjuju_hound
Posts: 180
What an annoying dude. Lewis won the battle 2:1 and Rosberg took away his toys and runaway after winning the tittle. Yeah better than this is not possible. Come on,,,
2GRX7
Posts: 108
LOL, funny guy! Speaking of character, you exposed, to the world, your true nature, and it's pretty ugly! Why would he ever want to go back to being close friends with you now, knowing what you're capable of? Friendly again - sure, of course. Close friends again? NO WAY! His good values clearly outweigh yours.
f1dave
Posts: 782
Rosberg keeps bringing this up. He seems a little obsessed with the fact that Hamilton doesn't want to move backwards to the karting days. He should just shut up about it and get on with his life outside of F1.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
I don't see that happening. First, because Rosberg clearly did some underhanded things during their time racing. He played mind-games on Lewis that actually worked and combined with good luck he won a championship. On the other hand, Lewis is too butthurt about the whole situation, he's always had an inferiority complex with Rosberg because he had money and fame early on. Even though Lewis is much richer and successful that Rosberg, he's still butthurt. These guys are no Ayrton and Alain. Those were gladiators, but also grow ass men. Lewis and Nico are... a different generation (to put it mildly)
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
I realize Im the underdog here, but Im legit surprised Rosberg want to be friends with him again from the way Hamilton raced him on track and shitchatted him in public. With such friends, you dont need enemies.
ajpennypacker
Posts: 2,475
It doesn't make sense to me either. I assume is one of these two:
1. He genuinely treasured the friendship and would like to salvage it
2. He's just trolling Lewis because he knows he'll get worked up about this when he continues to get asked about it
calle.itw
Posts: 8,527
Could be anything really. But then again, media asks him this question all of the time, so it isnt exactly fair on him to say he brings it up all of the time.