Wolff reveals drastic 2016 response to Hamilton-Rosberg clashes

Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg were at the centre of one of Formula 1’s most intense team-mate battles during Mercedes’ dominant era. The pair fought for the championship from 2014 to 2016, with tensions rising as their title fight became increasingly aggressive.

After Hamilton secured the crowns in 2014 and 2015, Rosberg mounted his strongest challenge in 2016. But the battle between the two team-mates also created serious problems for Mercedes.

Their most famous flashpoint came at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix, where both drivers crashed out on the opening lap. Later that season, they made contact again on the final lap in Austria, prompting team boss Toto Wolff to step in.

“You’re representing the Mercedes brand, and you just have to accept that it’s not all about you,” Toto Wolff said, as quoted by The Athletic.

Wolff explained that competition inside the team was always accepted, but only within clear limits.

“So, fact: they are competitors. We accept the competition. We accept them racing against each other as long as they respect certain red lines. And that is very simple: don’t crash into each other,” the Mercedes boss explained.

When those limits were crossed more than once, Wolff considered sending the strongest possible message.

“And I have never had any fear of making that very clear. In 2016, Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton crashed, and then they crashed again. So I fired them,” he said, although the move was never carried out.

Wolff then contacted Mercedes leadership to underline how serious the situation had become.

“I called my chief executive officer, Dieter Zetsche, and said: ‘Listen, you need to sign something.’ He called me back and said: ‘You’re making both drivers redundant?’ And I said: ‘Yeah, because otherwise they won’t understand how important it is to put the interests of the brand and the team above their own,’” Wolff added.