Nico Rosberg on Lewis Hamilton title fights: “Strange atmosphere, I was in isolation”
With Mercedes dominating F1 at the turn of the hybrid era in 2014, Rosberg and Hamilto😼n went head-to-hꦬead regularly for race wins and titles.
Hamilton beat Rosberg to the 🐎titles in 2014 and 2015, however, the German fought back in 2016.
Rosberg ultimately decided to retire at the end of 2016, citing t✅he sacrifice he put into that season.
“The whole team had to maintain a neutral attitude between Lewis and I,” Rosberg told La Gazzetta Dello Sport.
“T🦋here was a strange atmosphere within the te🃏am because it was clear that there was rivalry within our own garage.
“As a result, there was a spirit within th♊e team without bala🥂nce - and that made it difficult to get closer together.
“I was in isolation at the most important p🗹o🤪int of my career.”
Rosberg believes Max Verstappen is in a “easier” situation than he was against Hamilton given that 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Sergio Perez isn’t a threat and that the Dutchman is the clear “number o🐽ne driver”.
“It should be easier for Verstappen - bec♛ause he is seen as the number one driver by everyone,” he added. “There is a calmer atmosphere at Red Bull.”
Rosberg also compared Verstappen to F1 legends 168澳洲幸运5官方开奖结果历史:Michael Schumacher and Ayrton Senna.
“He has the fighting mentality just like Michael Schumacher and Ayrto🎀n Senna and he doesn't make mistakes anymore," he explained. “No teammate has been able to keep up with hi🌌m and we are talking about Pierre Gasly and Sergio Perez, who are not exactly bad drivers.
“Verstappen has blown 🐽my mind this year. He [had] a bad start to the season and Ferrari was superior at the time. He th🌳en went on to have a historic season with a [record-breaking] total of 15 victories, with relatively few pole positions, often winning by moving forward.
“He wiꦏll always be among the best five drivers. Certainly, he has won two world titles at the age of 25, and has already won more ra𓆏ces than Fernando Alonso.He has enormous talent and is now complete."
With a sharp eye for F1’s cont❀roversies and story﷽lines, Connor is the heartbeat of our unbiased reporting.
