Nico Rosberg warns George Russell against being a ‘nice guy’ in his duel against Lewis Hamilton

Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton had one of the most toxic teammate battles in the sport's history.

Nico Rosberg (Left) and Lewis Hamilton with George Russell (right) [Credits: Imago]

Former Mercedes champion Nico Rosberg, a veteran of the infamous “silver war” against Lewis Hamilton, has weighed in on the burgeoning rivalry between Hamilton and current teammate George Russell. Rosberg, who secured his championship by adopting an unwavering work ethic, offered Russell a nugget of advice: don’t play the ‘nice guy’ in the face of escalating tensions.

The Mercedes current pairing, though initially amicable, witnessed strains at the Japanese and subsequent Qatar GP. A skirmish at Suzuka saw Lewis Hamilton and George Russell vie for the same stretch of asphalt, leading to both drivers running off track. The discord escalated at Lusail, where a first-lap clash left Russell out of contention for points and Hamilton retiring.

The 2016 champion noted that recent clashes, particularly in Suzuka and Qatar, are pushing the boundaries. Rosberg, who now works as a Sky F1 pundit, shares a keen observation that hints at “things have been heating up recently” within the Mercedes team. In the ‘Silver War’ era, the Rosberg-Hamilton rivalry reached its pinnacle, culminating in fierce competition for the championship.

FS Video

While Russell’s demeanor leans towards friendly competition, Rosberg stresses the importance of assertiveness. He says, “It’s a very difficult situation for George as well because, unfortunately, you can’t just be the nice guy in that situation.” Rosberg’s advice revolves around Russell applying internal pressure on the team, making it uneasy for them and avoiding the easiest route.

Discover: Toto Wolff’s proxy admits Mercedes could have gotten a double podium had they not messed up at the Qatar GP

Nico Rosberg claims that Lewis Hamilton’s admission of fault is a big win for George Russell

In the recent Qatar Grand Prix, where Hamilton’s attempt to pass Russell led to a collision, Rosberg saw a rare admission of fault from Hamilton. Rosberg highlights the infrequency of Hamilton taking full responsibility during their time together, making it a notable moment in their current rivalry. This acknowledgment, according to Rosberg, marks a “big win for George internally.”

Lewis Hamilton and George Russell (Credits: Racing News 365)

Amidst the chaos, team boss Toto Wolff, recovering from knee surgery, remained distant from the action.. Rosberg expressed concern about the impact of Wolff’s absence on managing the intensifying conflict. He noted that Wolff is “the only person that will have the authority and respect to be able to handle that.” The absence of this guiding figure might not have been ideal during these turbulent times.

Rosberg proposes that Wolff’s return to the race track would be better. The team boss, who manages the teammates better, is considered ideal for actively maintaining impartiality amid rising tension. Russell, grappling with these intricate dynamics, benefits from Rosberg’s wisdom gleaned from his own clashes with Hamilton. The ‘silver war’ echoes as Mercedes confronts intra-team challenges.