Nico Rosberg, the 2016 Formula 1 World Champion, has revealed the unconventional and somewhat brutal manner in which the World Championship trophy was taken away from him and handed over to his former teammate and rival Lewis Hamilton.
The German driver, who defeated Hamilton in the 2016 season after a fierce rivalry during their time as Mercedes teammates, disclosed the details of the trophy’s fate during a recent interview.
The intense rivalry between Rosberg and Hamilton reached its peak in 2016 when Rosberg claimed the world title on the final day of the season in Abu Dhabi. However, just days after this momentous victory, Rosberg surprised the racing world by announcing his immediate retirement from Formula 1.
While he was initially able to bask in the glory of his hard-earned championship, the fate of the trophy took an unexpected turn.
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During his punditry duties at the Spanish Grand Prix, Rosberg candidly described the procedure that ensued after his retirement.
“You have to give the World Championship back!” he exclaimed.
“You only get to keep it for a year.
“I had to give it to Lewis. No, I had someone pick it up from my house, put it in a boot and drive it to Lewis’ home.
“That was not cool!”
Hamilton, who went on to secure the World Championship in 2017, added four more titles to his name, matching the legendary Michael Schumacher’s record by becoming a seven-time champion.
However, the elusive eighth title has proven to be a challenge for Hamilton. Since the controversial loss in the final lap of the 2021 season in Abu Dhabi, where victory slipped from his grasp, Hamilton has been unable to mount a strong challenge due to Mercedes’ poor performance.
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Nevertheless, hopes have been reignited with the recent extensive upgrade package for the Mercedes W14, which showed promising results during the Spanish Grand Prix.
Although Red Bull continues to dominate, Hamilton and his team believe the improvements will give him another shot at the coveted eighth championship title next season.
As the Formula 1 season unfolds, fans eagerly await the resurgence of Hamilton’s career, watching to see whether can get their car to a position to give him a shot at surpassing Schumacher’s long-standing record.