In exactly ten years of experience in Formula 1, Nico Rosberg had the opportunity to play the role of teammate of the two most successful drivers in the history of this category: Michael Schumacher and Lewis Hamilton. The former, who returned to the top racing series in 2010 after having previously hung up his helmet, signed a contract with Mercedes – also returning to the Circus – for three seasons, alongside the new signing Rosberg, hired by Williams. With the second and final withdrawal of the Kaiser, the German house replaced the departure of the seven-time world champion with the one who would later reach the same number of world championships, that is Lewis Hamilton. The initial and strong friendship between the two waned with the simultaneous growth in competitiveness of the car from 2014 onwards, which established a rivalry between the two. With the championship victory 2016, Rosberg then said goodbye to Formula 1 after having completed the world championship, already achieved in 1982 by his father Keke.
Today engaged in the role of columnist and commentator for Sky Sports, through the same platform, the former German driver highlighted the peculiarities of his old teammates, also underlining the major differences between Schumacher and Hamilton on the basis of his own direct experience: “Michael was really a complete rider from all points of view – commented Rosberg – he motivated the whole team, put himself on the front line and knew everyone’s names. He invited team members to his home or for a bike ride, even though he was a seven-time world champion and had an 800 million bank account. As far as pure talent is concerned, Lewis’s is probably the best of all time. He built it, and he has a phenomenal instinct. There big difference between the two is diligence – remarked the 2016 champion – Lewis hates tests, he just doesn’t like them. On the contrary, Michael would have done them every day, even with seven world championships in his pocket, because he knew he could have learned a few small details on those occasions ”.
Speaking of personal palmarès, the 2021 world championship could give Hamilton the eighth world title, which would allow the Englishman to overcome the absolute record obtained by Schumacher, equaled by The Hammer in 2020. Asked about the kind of emotion he would feel if this “overtaking” occurs, Rosberg replied to the question: “Sincerely – commented – I am not so attached and involved that I can say that Michael deserves to keep this record. Lewis deserves it too, because he worked to get to these levels. I can only say that he has always been very fast, and I feel proud to have beaten him on the same car ”.