Nico Rosberg has recently addressed claims made by Toto Wolff earlier this year regarding a potential dismissal of both Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton during the 2016 Formula 1 season. Rosberg, speaking on the High Performance Podcast, acknowledged internal discussions but cast doubt on the idea of outright termination.
Wolff, the Mercedes Team Principal, had revealed in an interview with The Athletic earlier this year that he was prepared to fire both drivers. This drastic consideration followed their collision at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix.
The incident, occurring on the opening lap at Turn 3 in Barcelona, eliminated both Mercedes cars from the race. This handed Red Bull Racing an unexpected victory, with Max Verstappen securing his maiden F1 win.
Wolff stated he approached then-Mercedes CEO Dieter Zetsche for approval to terminate their contracts. He cited the intense rivalry had escalated to animosity, threatening the Mercedes-Benz brand and its 2,500 employees.
Wolff ultimately decided against the extreme measure, acknowledging the difficulty in assigning sole blame for the collision. The FIA stewards also determined neither driver was wholly or predominantly at fault for the Barcelona incident.
Instead, a new contractual clause was implemented, making both drivers financially liable for crash damage. This stipulated a 50/50 split of costs, regardless of fault.
Rosberg confirmed he was unaware of the internal discussions about potential suspension or firing at the time. He did, however, recall signing the new contract.
He detailed paying $360,000 for one specific crash, referring to the Barcelona incident. This meant a combined cost of $720,000 for the Mercedes teammates from that single event.
Rosberg suggested a one-race suspension was a more probable outcome discussed internally than outright dismissal. He recounted Wolff’s strong reaction to the team’s double retirement.
The former world champion also highlighted the team’s subsequent efforts to establish clearer guidelines for wheel-to-wheel racing. He emphasized the importance of extensive communication to manage such volatile rivalries.
Rosberg ultimately secured the 2016 Drivers’ Championship, retiring from the sport days after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix that year. He now works as a media pundit and eco-entrepreneur.
Lewis Hamilton, who competed against Rosberg in 2016, is currently competing for Ferrari in the 2026 Formula 1 season. Toto Wolff continues in his role as Team Principal and CEO of the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team.
