Nico Rosberg now 'more relaxed' with Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes F1
Nico Rosberg says his relationship with Mercedes Formula 1 team-mate and title rival Lewis Hamilton is "more relaxed" this season, but warns things could "change very quickly"
The Mercedes drivers were involved in several tense moments during the 2014 F1 title battle, which peaked with a collision between the two at the Belgian Grand Prix, for which the team reprimanded Rosberg.
Only 17 points separate the two drivers in this year's fight, but the atmosphere at Mercedes has seemed more relaxed this season than during the 2014 campaign.
When asked about the internal situation at Mercedes during a launch event for the team's technical partner Petronas in Hamburg, Rosberg said "everything is the same" in terms of the way the team is managed, but revealed relations have simply thawed between the two drivers.
"It's just more relaxed at the moment between the two of us, but it can change very quickly," he said, when asked by AUTOSPORT about the current dynamic in the team.
"[The tense flashpoints were] just between the two drivers, otherwise everything is the same.
"The atmosphere was great last year and it is again this year."
Rosberg said the fact Mercedes has drawn further away from the field recently, amid an early threat from Ferrari, is due in part to how well he, Hamilton and the rest of the team are working together.
"We've always had a certain amount of commitment towards the team - to help move us all forward, and that's still the same," he added.
"It's just great to see that when the team came under pressure from Ferrari we've done better than everybody else; we've moved away.
"It's fantastic the level that we're at - absolutely the best in every area.
"Even aerodynamics, we're the best team, where some years ago we were not.
"In every area we're the best."
Be part of the Autosport community
Join the conversationShare Or Save This Story
The supercharged Revolution that has piqued an Olympic legend's motorsport taste
How Radical revamped its record-breaking flagship model
Inside the lightweight Czech sportscar making its mark on the UK
Rosberg and Vettel F1 comebacks not an option for Mercedes
The defending champion harnessing a "calming feeling" in Extreme E
Why Bottas won't emulate Rosberg to beat Hamilton
Hamilton: Norris would have been better off conceding in Turn 1
Hamilton expects to lose positions if F1 China sprint is dry
The F1 breakthroughs Mercedes made in Japan - and what's next
Hamilton: Norris would have been better off conceding in Turn 1
Leclerc: Sainz “over the limit” with defence in F1 Chinese GP sprint race
2024 F1 Chinese GP sprint results: Verstappen wins from fourth on grid
F1 Chinese GP: Verstappen beats Hamilton to sprint win
The short-term pain that hides a very real Williams improvement
How a Shanghai to Sheffield journey paved the way for China’s F1 hero
Why F1 2026 worst case fears could be key to new rules success
How the F1 driver market situation sits for each team with 2025 openings
Subscribe and access Autosport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
Top Comments