Rosberg admits he fuelled Mercedes clashes with Hamilton, then quit

Nico Rosberg reflected on his intense rivalry with Lewis Hamilton, saying the on-track clashes that marked their Mercedes years were “probably more my fault than his.” Rosberg said he deliberately became tougher on track, training with meditation and visualization to “hold his ground” in wheel-to-wheel battles and acknowledged that his tactics and refusal to yield contributed to several crashes, singling out the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix collision as the most infamous example. He credited those confrontations as factors that helped him secure the 2016 Drivers’ Championship, said the 2016 fight strained a relationship that began in childhood, and noted he retired immediately after that season because the battle had taken a lot out of him. Speaking on the High Performance Podcast, Rosberg praised Hamilton’s longevity and professionalism and said he was “amazed” Hamilton was still competing a decade after Rosberg retired. Rosberg noted Hamilton’s sustained excellence, including four consecutive championships that made him a seven-time world champion by 2020, and he described Hamilton in the piece as a “genius.” Rosberg said he hoped the 41-year-old could add an eighth world title but expressed doubt that Hamilton could secure it, arguing that the Ferrari car “isn’t good enough” and that Hamilton’s level “is not quite there yet,” while qualifying that Hamilton “would deserve it.” Rosberg predicted Hamilton would still win at least one race this season, pointed to an improved sophomore year at Ferrari highlighted by a P2 in Canada, and said the 2026 regulations and two podiums so far had helped Hamilton respond strongly after a difficult 2025. Rosberg also warned that intra-team dynamics, notably a strong Charles Leclerc, would be decisive in any title bid. Kimi Antonelli echoed the view that Ferrari were favourites and suggested Hamilton could win at the Monaco Grand Prix this weekend.