P1racenews AI automatic summary:
How different would F1 look if Rosberg had raced as long as Hamilton?
Lewis Hamilton, a seven-time F1 world champion, celebrated his 41st birthday last week, prompting thoughts about F1’s potential landscape if a driver of similar age to him were still competing in the sport. While Nico Rosberg, who is actually younger than Hamilton and turns 41 in June, has been out of F1 for a decade after his 2016 championship victory. Rosberg’s surprising retirement announcement after winning the championship led to Mercedes swiftly signing Valtteri Bottas for the 2017 season. The question arises whether Rosberg would have presented a different challenge to Hamilton during his dominant years or if Hamilton’s determination post-2016 defeat was unbeatable and at its peak at age 32. It’s regrettable that we never witnessed Rosberg’s post-championship performance, given his retirement at only 31 while still in his prime.
Had Rosberg continued racing, the possibility of him and Hamilton remaining as teammates at Mercedes exists, considering their age proximity and past friendship. Their relationship at Mercedes deteriorated as they became fierce rivals, especially evident during the 2016 season. The strategic rivalry between Hamilton and Rosberg sometimes impacted Mercedes’ team dynamics negatively, notably with their clash in Spain and Hamilton’s tactics at the 2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. As Mercedes aimed for high points in the constructor’s championship, the Hamilton-Bottas partnership’s stability and consistency became pivotal, making Rosberg’s hypothetical return and potential role within the team uncertain. Rosberg, a world champion, might have sought a change to another team similar to Daniel Ricciardo’s move, possibly due to frustrations about not receiving priority as the leading driver despite his title-winning status.
