At the Chinese Grand Prix, former F1 driver Nico Rosberg was quick to respond to Sky Sports F1 pundit Karun Chandhok’s comment regarding Rosberg’s previous rivalry with Lewis Hamilton.
Currently, Rosberg is part of the broadcasting team for Sky at the event, which had a dramatic start due to a grass fire interrupting the first practice.
This was followed by Lando Norris securing the pole position for the Saturday sprint race in a stunning finish against Hamilton.
During the race weekend, Norris outperformed expectations, overtaking Hamilton and leaving Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc in seventh, two spots behind his teammate Carlos Sainz.
READ: Fernando Alonso’s Contract Extension Sparks Major Shifts in Formula 1 Driver Market for 2025
With only six points separating Sainz and Leclerc in the drivers’ standings, tension is anticipated as Sainz will be replaced by Hamilton as a seven-time world champion by the end of 2024.
On air, Rosberg discussed the potential dynamics of the race weekend, stating, “We’re all looking forward to that dynamic again, Charles doesn’t seem like someone who goes for conflict too much with his team-mate.”
Chandhok’s response, “Like you?” led to an awkward exchange on air. Rosberg retorted, “Come on. That’s not nice to say,” and then continued with his commentary.
Rosberg and Hamilton had a notably contentious relationship during their four years as teammates at Mercedes.
This period saw Rosberg claim his only world championship in 2016, after which he retired at the age of 31, choosing to focus on family life.
Despite being a frequent runner-up to Hamilton, their rivalry escalated to several public disagreements, with Rosberg once humorously noting that it nearly became physical.
READ: Employee to be Re-Interviewed as Part of Appeal Against Christian Horner
Since retiring, Rosberg has made efforts to mend his relationship with Hamilton. In a discussion with the German publication Suddeutsche Zeitung, Rosberg shared, “Lewis and I have repaired our friendship.
We see each other from time to time. Every Christmas my daughters receive a huge box full of gifts from him,” indicating a significant improvement in their personal relations post-retirement.
This reconciliation highlights a softer conclusion to what was once a fierce competitive saga between the two champions.