Breaking: Hamilton damages revealed as Verstappen trouble b…read more
Hamilton-Rosberg Crash Resurfaces Amid McLaren Title Tensions, Verstappen Rivalry Questioned
As Formula 1 heads deeper into the 2025 season, fierce competition at the front of the grid has brought old memories to the surface — particularly the infamous 2016 clash between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg. The incident, which occurred at the Spanish Grand Prix, ended both drivers’ races on the first lap and remains one of the most controversial moments of their intense rivalry at Mercedes.
Nico Rosberg, now a pundit for Sky F1, reflected on the crash while covering the 2025 Spanish GP. With McLaren’s Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris locked in a tight title battle — separated by just three points heading into Barcelona — Rosberg issued a stern warning to McLaren team boss Andrea Stella. “Trusting the drivers to race each other fairly is often a recipe for disaster,” Rosberg cautioned.
Drawing from his own dramatic experience in 2016, Rosberg recalled how the collision with Hamilton unfolded. “I closed the door aggressively, and suddenly Lewis vanished from my mirrors — he was on the grass beside me,” he said. The result was catastrophic: both Mercedes cars were immediately eliminated from the race. That season would ultimately see Rosberg win his first and only world title before abruptly retiring just days after securing the championship.
In a revealing moment during the broadcast, Rosberg shared a lesser-known detail about the aftermath of that crash. Mercedes had clauses in their contracts that made the drivers financially responsible for any damages caused by such incidents — regardless of who was at fault. “We had to split the damage costs 50/50,” Rosberg said. “It cost me €380,000. After that, I was a bit more cautious when my team-mate was around.”
The resurfacing of that turbulent Mercedes rivalry serves as a cautionary tale for McLaren, who now lead the Constructors’ Championship by a commanding 197 points over Ferrari. Despite their dominance, managing two ambitious drivers like Piastri and Norris without designating a clear number one could prove challenging as title pressure mounts.
While Norris was once expected to be Max Verstappen’s main challenger in 2024, he failed to mount a consistent threat. Now, as the team’s momentum shifts toward Piastri, McLaren faces a strategic dilemma. Should they intervene to prioritize one driver, or continue to allow both to race freely?
So far, McLaren’s approach has worked. The harmony between Piastri and Norris has helped the team become the strongest pairing on the grid. But with the championship fight tightening and tempers potentially flaring, the question remains: can McLaren maintain this balance, or are they heading down the same path as Mercedes in 2016?
With new regulations on the horizon for 2026, keeping both drivers satisfied — without fracturing the team dynamic — could be crucial. If McLaren navigates this period carefully, they may not only secure short-term success but also set the foundation for long-term dominance.
About The Author
