Few people in Formula 1 know Lewis Hamilton as well as his former Mercedes teammate, Nico Rosberg.
Over the years, Lewis Hamilton has emerged victorious against all his F1 teammates, but Nico Rosberg managed to get the better of him during the 2016 season. After three seasons together at Mercedes, during which the seven-time F1 world champion consistently prevailed in their intra-team battles, the 2016 Formula 1 campaign marked a turning point.
Nico Rosberg poured every ounce of effort into securing that championship, sensing a rare opportunity to overcome Hamilton. He even stopped cycling midway through the season to reduce muscle mass in his legs, gaining a fraction of a second per lap in a contest that was extraordinarily tight. Ultimately, the German triumphed in the final race in Abu Dhabi and announced just days later that he was retiring at the peak of his career.
Lewis Hamilton, on the other hand, has had seven similar opportunities to walk away on top but shows no signs of stopping. At 40 years old, he has recently confirmed his move to Ferrari for the 2025 season, demonstrating his enduring passion for the sport.
In an interview with the Italian daily newspaper *Gazzetta dello Sport*, Nico Rosberg shared his thoughts on what continues to drive his former teammate to compete at such a high level.
With the British driver’s first public appearance for Ferrari fast approaching, it seems likely that he is as excited as ever to embark on a new Formula 1 season.
Nico Rosberg on what motivates Hamilton ahead of first Ferrari F1 test
The German was asked to weigh in on the source of Lewis Hamilton’s motivation to stay in Formula 1, considering his debut in the sport dates back to 2007. He explained that Lewis Hamilton is motivated by a profound love for the sport and a determination to push his boundaries. He noted that a significant change, like the one Hamilton is about to face, can rekindle his passion for racing. Despite already being a legend with nothing left to prove, Lewis Hamilton’s decision reflects the drive of someone eager to continue evolving, both as a driver and as an individual.
The Brit surpassed the 350 Grand Prix mark last year, and if it weren’t for the unstoppable Fernando Alonso, he would be the sport’s most experienced driver. If he didn’t have a move to Ferrari to get excited about, his motivation could potentially be questioned, given Mercedes’ position in the Constructors’ Championship last year.
However, it’s easy for the 40-year-old to get excited about driving a car that narrowly missed out on winning the title in 2024.
Lewis Hamilton’s long-anticipated Ferrari F1 debut is just around the corner.
Although the Australian Grand Prix is still two months away, Lewis Hamilton won’t have to wait that long to step into a Ferrari F1 car for the first time.
Hamilton’s first Ferrari test is expected to take place next week, although it could change at the last minute if conditions aren’t right.
Ferrari are potentially lining up three tests for Hamilton before pre-season even begins to give him as much time as possible to adapt to their processes and procedures. In addition to a private shakedown at Fiorano and a few days of running in Barcelona, Ferrari could also run Lewis Hamilton in a 2026 Pirelli tyre test at Magny-Cours, which would be excluded from the wide-ranging testing ban teams and drivers have to adhere to.
The British driver will be slightly at a disadvantage against new teammate Charles Leclerc at the start of 2025, as the Monegasque driver is much better prepared when it comes to working with Ferrari.
But as Nico Rosberg explained, Lewis Hamilton’s motivation is at a level where he’ll be eager to match and then surpass Charles Leclerc as quickly as possible in 2025.
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