Hamilton and Rosberg, who were childhood friends, experienced a well-known deterioration in their relationship during the 2016 F1 season. Prior to that, they had been rivals in junior competitions before becoming partners in the Silver Arrows team. In 2016, Rosberg, a native German, narrowly secured the World Drivers’ Championship title, finishing just five points ahead of Hamilton. This championship was the only one that eluded Hamilton between 2014 and 2020, and marked the peak of a tense rivalry between the former friends. The rivalry reached its climax with notable collisions during the Spanish and Austrian Grand Prixs, leading to Rosberg’s retirement at the young age of 31 after winning his only championship. Nearly eight years after Rosberg’s exit from the racing scene, he acknowledged Hamilton’s efforts to rebuild their friendship. Hamilton, a seven-time world champion, consistently sends generous gifts to Rosberg’s two young daughters, Naila and Alaia. Rosberg shared in an interview with the German publication Suddeutsche Zeitung that he and Hamilton have repaired their friendship and occasionally spend time together. He also mentioned that every Christmas, his daughters receive a large box filled with gifts from Hamilton. The intense rivalry between Rosberg and Hamilton continued to attract attention, with incidents like the collision at the Belgian Grand Prix resulting in disciplinary actions from Mercedes. The friction between them was evident as their rivalry intensified, as highlighted in interviews and discussions about their battles on the track. Their partnership at Mercedes, which began in 2013, was characterized by fierce competition. Former teammate Heikki Kovalainen even described it as “almost killing” Rosberg. Currently, Rosberg is involved in sustainable entrepreneurship and investing in the Formula E racing series. Reflecting on the breakdown of their friendship, he attributed it to the pressures of competing at the highest level in Formula 1. He emphasized that, when fighting for titles and victories, sentimentality takes a back seat, and competitors often have to push boundaries to succeed, especially when facing exceptionally skilled drivers.
