Hamilton vs Rosberg: the rivals’ biggest flashpoints

At the Austrian Grand Prix last weekend, the volatile relationship between Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg may have sunk to an all-time low.

The German driver was leading his teammate heading into the final lap having driven impeccably to take control of the race after starting sixth on the grid due to a gearbox penalty.

But with just nine corners to go, it all fell apart for Rosberg. A mistake at Turn 1 – likely caused by a brake problem – left him exposed, giving Hamilton the opportunity to edge ahead approaching Turn 2.

The three-time world champion took a wide line as he tried to squeeze in front, but Rosberg refused to yield and – as the stewards later concluded – he caused the resulting collision which left him with a broken front wing and only fourth place to show for his efforts.

The repercussions of the incident could have permanent effects. Team boss Toto Wolff called the contact “brainless”, and confirmed that Mercedes were now considering whether or not to implement team orders to prevent such a disaster happening again.

Could it really be the final straw? The pair’s history suggests that there will always be drama, regardless of the instructions their team gives them...

With such a dominant car, Hamilton and Rosberg were in a class of their own. The battle in Bahrain a couple of years ago remains the closest and most enthralling encounter between them, with the lead changing hands several times over the course of the race. Hamilton eventually came out on top, and Rosberg appeared to take second in good spirits as they jostled in parc ferme. It wouldn’t last...

This is where things began to turn sour. Rosberg was on provisional pole entering the final stages of qualifying, although Hamilton looked set to steal it from him as he set a personal best first sector with seconds remaining. But he never got the chance. Rosberg made a mistake at Mirabeau, causing yellow flags which confirmed his spot at the front of the grid. He won the following day, and Hamilton wasn’t best pleased...

The low point of 2014. Rosberg had qualified on pole, but he lost the lead to his teammate in the first few corners after lights out. A lap later he made contact with the left rear of Hamilton’s car, leaving the Briton with a puncture which led to other issues and an eventual DNF. Rosberg meanwhile suffered damage of his own, although he eventually finished second behind Daniel Ricciardo. Even so, Rosberg was reportedly fined following the race. Ouch.

With Lewis Hamilton now 29 points down on his teammate with just seven races to go, the 2008 champion knew it was time to up the ante. However, Rosberg claimed the lead at the start as Hamilton fell to fourth, and it looked like the German was set to build on his championship lead. Hamilton was having none of it. A spirited drive saw him close the gap to his rival, and the pressure forced Rosberg into a mistake which cost him the race. Cue five consecutive wins for Lewis.

Fast-forward to Suzuka the following year, by which point Nico Rosberg’s latest title hopes were already hanging by a thread. Many critics had pointed out that there were very few occasions where he had actually come out on top in a direct fight with Hamilton, and so it proved again as the reigning champion inched past the pole sitter at Turn 2. Rosberg recovered to finish second, but the difference in the drivers’ form was clear. Two races later, Hamilton had a third world championship wrapped up.

And he was able to seal it thanks to another mistake by his teammate. With Rosberg again on pole, Hamilton aggressively – and for some, unfairly – forced Rosberg off the circuit in Turn 1 at the start, although the German later reclaimed the lead after torrential rain shook up the running order in Austin. With eight laps remaining Rosberg slid off the track, gifting the chequered flag and the title to Hamilton. The situation became even tenser in the drivers’ room after the race, where Lewis threw the second place baseball cap at a clearly aggrieved Nico. Oops.

The title may have been decided by this point, but with the pain of defeat fresh in the memory Rosberg was determined to bounce back at the next available opportunity. He was in imperious form at the Mexican Grand Prix a week later, and his victory at Autodromo Hermanos Rodriguez began a run of seven consecutive F1 wins spreading into 2016. Only Sebastian Vettel’s run of 9 victories in a row in 2013 betters Rosberg’s winning streak.

Hamilton and Rosberg’s opening lap collision at Barcelona earlier this season remains the only time they have ever taken each other off in a grand prix. Losing the lead off the line, Hamilton spotted an opportunity to reclaim the place as a warning light on the back of Rosberg’s car gave away the fact that he was in the wrong engine mode. As Lewis went for the inside line, Nico defended, pushing his rival onto the grass. Hamilton lost grip, span, and seconds later they were both in the gravel. No one was more grateful than Max Verstappen, who took full advantage to become F1’s youngest ever winner.

This was a strange one. As Daniel Ricciardo put his Red Bull on pole Rosberg outqualified Hamilton around the streets of Monte Carlo once again, and many thought that the result was settled. But Rosberg was off colour on race day, and he had no choice but to let his teammate through thanks to the team’s agreement that neither driver should hold the other up. Hamilton raced into the distance and eventually rode his luck to victory, while Rosberg finished seventh. Proof, then, that the two Mercedes drivers are capable of good sportsmanship...

That brings us to last weekend’s race at the Red Bull Ring. To Mercedes’ credit, they have always allowed their drivers to race, although up until now that has been a low-risk call given their dominance over everyone else since the start of 2014. But with the likes of Ferrari and Red Bull closing that performance gap, they no longer have a margin for error. Are team orders the solution? Over to you, Toto...