F1 champion shares words of wisdom after DESTROYING Lewis Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton at Monza — Photo: © IMAGO

Formula 1

F1 champion shares words of wisdom after DESTROYING Lewis Hamilton

Nico Rosberg delved into his F1 past

Sheona Mountford F1 Journalist

Motorsport journalist working in F1 since 2024.

Friday 26 September 2025 19:00

2016 F1 champion Nico Rosberg has revealed the 'darkest moment' that led to his defeat of Lewis Hamilton in the pair's 2016 title battle.

Rosberg lost out to Hamilton in 2014 and 2015, with the Brit claiming his second and third world titles respectively whilst the pair were team-mates at Mercedes.

In 2016 however, it was Rosberg who claimed his one and only title in F1, beating Hamilton before shocking the world in the aftermath of the season and retiring abruptly from the sport.

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A title battle with Hamilton would require mental strength from any competitor, but going against a friend turned rival added a whole new dimension to the inter-Mercedes battle.

In a recent post on LinkedIn, Rosberg revealed the darkest moment from the 2015 title race, where he admitted to locking himself in his hotel room for two days.

"When I was racing in Formula 1, one of my darkest moments came in 2015. I'd been leading a race against Lewis Hamilton, made a mistake, and lost. Again. I was gutted. I locked myself in my hotel room for two days. I was super frustrated and honestly wondered if I was good enough to win."

Rosberg on Hamilton title battle

Rosberg then detailed the change in mindset that allowed him to claim the championship a year later in Abu Dhabi, which he described as an ‘aha-moment’.

"In F1, doubt can eat you alive. One mistake feels like proof you don't belong," he continued.

"But I experienced a pretty big 'aha-moment' in that hotel room. The fear of repeating that mistake could either break me or fuel me. I chose the latter. And I made a decision: no more half-measures. I'd optimise every detail and strengthen my mindset, no matter what it took!

"The result? One year later, I was world champion."

The champion also offered further words of wisdom, and added: "Whenever doubt creeps in for me, that's when I know it's time to push harder than ever before.

"According to research 70 per cent of people experience imposter syndrome at some point in their careers. Over 55 per cent of entrepreneurs admit to regular self-doubt, but persistence is one of the strongest predictors of long-term success.

"What matters most at the end of the day is how you see yourself. So don't let self-doubt get in the way of achieving your goals."

F1 Lewis Hamilton Nico Rosberg