F1 champion reveals crash cost him nearly half a MILLION dollars

The 2016 United States Grand Prix podium — Photo: © IMAGO

F1 Stories

F1 champion reveals crash cost him nearly half a MILLION dollars

Nico Rosberg had a fiery rivalry with Lewis Hamilton

Sam Cook Digital Journalist

Sports Journalist who has been covering motorsport since 2023

Monday 29 April 2024 04:00

Former Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg has suggested that his fierce rivalry with Lewis Hamilton had ramifications for the pair's yearly salary.

Rosberg won the 2016 world championship, before retiring in the aftermath of what had been an almighty battle with now seven-time champion Hamilton.

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The pair spent four seasons together as Mercedes team-mates, with Rosberg claiming 22 race victories in that time and Hamilton 32.

They formed a formidable driver line-up as the Brackley-based team claimed the first three of their eight consecutive constructors' world championship titles, but German driver Rosberg decided to call it quits after the phenomenal 2016 season.

Nico Rosberg had to pay out for collisions with Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton is a seven-time Formula 1 world champion

Rosberg foots big bill

Now Rosberg, whose relationship with 39-year-old Hamilton has since been fixed, has revealed what team principal Toto Wolff made the pair do whenever they caused damage to one another's cars.

“Because Lewis and I crashed, the team ended up making us pay for the damage,” the German told the Business of Sport podcast.

“We had to sign a contract that from now on, if we crash, no matter whose fault it is, we will pay for the damage. I remember how much I had to pay that was £360,000 (~$455,000) that I shelled out for one of these accidents. That was very painful.

“After that, we definitely made sure that we didn’t collide again.”

Max Verstappen Lewis Hamilton Mercedes Formula 1 Spanish Grand Prix Nico Rosberg