Formula 1: Hamilton and Rosberg rivalry set to resume in 2016

Matt Haynes | December 3, 2015

Another Formula 1 season has finished, and yet more fallout has followed. Champion Lewis Hamilton, who is odds-on at 8/13 with Coral to retain the title in 2016 has revealed just what it is like working alongside Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

Hamilton: Rosberg “complains a lot”

We have seen on numerous occasions that this partnership has gone anything but smoothly with the two drivers ultra competitive.

Following the end of the Formula 1 season, Hamilton was only too happy to let everyone know what it is like being Rosberg’s teammate: “You’ve seen he complains about a lot of things. But you kind of let it go over your head because that’s just the way he is,” said Hamilton.

“It’s kind of the different background we come from, I guess.”

Hamilton aggression

Two particular incidents this year stick out in particular; at the Japanese and US circuits (the latter where Hamilton was confirmed as champion) when Rosberg hit out that Hamilton had overtaken him too aggressively at the start of the race, though the champion has no apologies for racing hard.

“On the racing side of things you have to be tough.

“You can’t be nice out there, and go: ‘Hey, here’s some space.’ I mean business.

“I’m not here to make friends, to finish the race and say: ‘Hey, that was a lovely race, chap, you were so friendly with me, you let me win.’

“This is the one opportunity and you take it. That doesn’t mean wiping someone out or cheating but you have to be fierce, strong and hard to as much of the limit as you can be. And you can ask every world champion, if you’re on the outside, you have to back off.”

Rivalry goes back further than Formula 1

Perhaps one of the reasons for this tense rivalry between the two has more to it. Rosberg, 5/2 to win the title next term, raced go-karts with Hamilton when the pair were teenagers, which appeared to lay the foundations for what would later become a elite clashes at the very top of motorsport.

While the rest of the field are some way off the Mercedes duo, Sebastian Vettel showed great progress in his Ferrari last year and he could be a good investment at 10/3 in a car that will only be improved during the off-season.

Meanwhile, Sergio Perez and Valterri Bottas are showing good progress in Formula One and will be keen to continue to challenge the likes of Hamilton and Rosberg next year.