Nearly a decade after the dramatic collision between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, Rosberg has spoken candidly about how that incident deepened the already strained rivalry between the two Mercedes teammates. The crash, which occurred at the Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, ended both drivers’ races early and intensified the tension inside the team.
On Sky Sports F1, Rosberg reflected on the moment during the race where the collision occurred, describing the sequence that led to the crash. The 2016 clash is remembered as one of the most intense moments in their rivalry, highlighting the fragility of their relationship during that season.
Rosberg Describes the Crash and Its Immediate Effects
Rosberg recounted how, while leading, he made a crucial error in engine settings as he approached Turn Four, which slowed his car unexpectedly.
“So I took the lead round the outside of Lewis and I had the wrong engine setting and that slowed me down on the way to Turn Four,”
he said.
He added details about Hamilton’s attempt to overtake and the resulting collision:
“And Lewis tried to go for the inside. I blocked very late, very aggressively. He went over the grass and on the data, we could see he never lifted, he kept flat on the grass, which is unbelievable. Then of course it came to the collision, which really is the worst case. And it’s also dangerous.”
The Impact on Team Dynamics and Personal Relationship
The collision worsened the already difficult relationship between Rosberg and Hamilton. When pressed about how the crash affected their personal and professional interactions, Rosberg described the internal struggles at Mercedes and the atmosphere of blame.
He said,
“It was already bad, so it didn’t really change too much. It just made it even worse. It was an extremely intense and difficult situation to manage internally. Lewis and I not speaking and trying to… and also the internal politics and who’s on whose side and who’s to blame… It was very tough.”
The incident came early in the race, with both drivers starting from the front row, only to collide just four corners after the start, abruptly ending their contention at the Spanish Grand Prix.
Team and Leadership Reactions to the Barcelona Incident
Mercedes’ team principal Toto Wolff was measured in his response, explaining how the team usually allowed its drivers to race freely despite the risks.
“We let the drivers race, and sometimes this is what happens,”
Wolff told Sky Sports immediately following the crash.
In contrast, the late Mercedes non-executive chairman Niki Lauda delivered a sharper critique, calling the crash “completely unnecessary.” He expressed frustration that both cars were out after just two corners, stating,
“For me, the disaster is that both are out after two corners is for me unacceptable.”
Lauda held Hamilton more responsible, pointing to aggressive driving and misjudgment:
“Lewis was too aggressive to pass him, and why should Nico give him room? He was in the lead. It was a miscalculation in Lewis’s head, I blame him more than Nico. But for the team, for Mercedes, it is unacceptable.”
Consequences for the Rivalry and Mercedes Team Policies
The fallout from the Barcelona crash forced Mercedes to impose stricter team management and clearer rules of engagement between the championship contenders. Lauda took a lead role in reinforcing guidelines that included possible penalties or contract consequences for drivers who endangered the team’s success.
Despite the conflict, Rosberg went on to secure the 2016 drivers’ championship by a mere five-point margin over Hamilton. The season’s tension and the Barcelona incident exemplified the fierce competition between the teammates, culminating in Rosberg’s retirement at the height of his career shortly thereafter.
Legacy of the 2016 Collision on F1 Rivalries
The 2016 Spanish Grand Prix crash remains a defining episode in the story of Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg’s intense rivalry. It revealed the dangers of high-stakes competition between teammates and triggered internal challenges for Mercedes. The lessons learned shaped how teams have since managed intra-team battles to balance competitiveness with cooperation.
