Nico Rosberg revealed that Mercedes had seriously considered the possibility of suspending both its drivers after their collision in Barcelona in 2016.
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Former world champion Nico Rosberg looked back on one of the most tense episodes of the Mercedes era, marked by the collision between him and Lewis Hamilton on the first lap of the Spanish Grand Prix. An incident that had deeply annoyed Toto Wolff and pushed the team to consider radical internal measures.
During this race held on the Barcelona circuit, the two teammates clashed in the first few corners before colliding at full speed on the straight connecting turns 3 and 4. The incident led to their double retirement, leaving victory to their rivals and offering an unexpected success to Max Verstappen, then a very young F1 winner.
For Mercedes, this episode represented a real strategic and sporting fiasco. The team then largely dominated the championship, and seeing its two cars eliminate each other was perceived as an unacceptable error at the top of the team.
Wolff furious and extreme options considered
According to Rosberg, Toto Wolff’s reaction was immediate and particularly violent within the team. The Mercedes director reportedly expressed his anger during a crisis meeting, reproaching the two drivers for having handed victory to their direct opponents.
It was in this context that internal discussions reportedly took place with the Mercedes-Benz management to consider heavy sanctions, including a one-Grand Prix suspension for each of the two drivers. A measure that was ultimately never applied but which shows the level of tension reached at the time.
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A sanction finally replaced by financial measures
While the suspension option was abandoned, Mercedes nevertheless tightened its internal management. Toto Wolff reportedly imposed a system of financial responsibility in the event of a collision between his two drivers, with shared responsibility for damages.
Rosberg notably explained that he had to sign an agreement making each driver responsible for 50% of the costs in the event of an accident, regardless of fault. A rule that had a direct impact on his wallet, with a bill of several hundred thousand dollars following an incident.
A rivalry that marked an era
This tough management illustrates how explosive the cohabitation between Hamilton and Rosberg had become within Mercedes. Their internal rivalry contributed to shaping a dominant but tense period for the German team, where every on-track contact could have major sporting and financial consequences.
In retrospect, this Barcelona episode remains one of the strongest symbols of the fratricidal struggle between the two former teammates.
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