Nico Rosberg had to pay £360K for a collision with Lewis Hamilton

The intense rivalry

The pairing of Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton at Mercedes from 2013 to 2016 was a story of a friendship turned fierce rivalry as the two drivers battled for Formula 1 supremacy.

Their on-track battles pushed tensions to the limit, not just between the drivers but throughout the entire team.

Financial consequences of collisions

In an effort to maintain control over the escalating rivalry, Mercedes implemented a strict policy that contractually obliged Rosberg and Hamilton to pay for damages caused by any collisions between them, regardless of fault.

A costly crash

Rosberg recently opened up about the steep price he had to pay under this policy, revealing that after one of his on-track clashes with Hamilton, he was forced to shell out a staggering £360,000 to cover the repair costs.

"That was very painful," Rosberg admitted on the Business of Sport podcast.

Learning from experiences

The significant financial burden proved to be a valuable lesson for both drivers. As Rosberg explained,

"After that, we definitely made sure that we didn't collide again."

This policy served as a deterrent, helping to mitigate the risks of further costly incidents between the two title contenders.

Early lessons in crash costs

Rosberg's experience with covering crash costs dates back to his early racing days.

He recounted how his first salary as a Williams test driver in 2005 was entirely consumed by a loan taken out by his father to cover the repairs from a GP2 accident that same year, a stark reminder of the high financial stakes in motorsport.

The aftermath

While Rosberg emerged victorious in their intense battle in 2016, claiming his sole World Championship title before retiring, Hamilton went on to secure four more titles, bringing his tally to a record-equalling seven.

As the 2024 season marks Hamilton's final year with Mercedes before his highly anticipated move to Ferrari, the hunt for that elusive eighth title continues.