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“I wouldn’t give Lewis Hamilton $200 million”- When Nico Rosberg criticized former Mercedes teammate for negotiating his own F1 deal

Somin Bhattacharjee
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"I wouldn't give Lewis Hamilton $200 million"- When Nico Rosberg criticized former Mercedes teammate for negotiating his own F1 deal

Lewis Hamilton is one of the greatest F1 drivers of all time, but Nico Rosberg does not think he deserves a $200 million deal. 

When Hamilton decided to leave McLaren for Mercedes, many people questioned his decision. The former were doing well and seemingly rising to the top, but Mercedes were new to the sport and their future was uncertain.

Today we all know just how crucial that move was for the F1 history books. Hamilton established himself as an all-time great, winning six World Titles in Brackley. One problem however, which arose after his move to the Silver Arrows was his depreciating relationship with Rosberg.

Rosberg and the Brit were best friends from childhood, but after joining Mercedes and fighting for the Title, they became bitter rivals.

Back in 2015, Hamilton’s contract with Mercedes was put under a lot of scrutiny. It was supposed to end that year, but negotiations for the same were under way. The finances behind his contract on the other hand, did not sit well with Rosberg.

Also read: Lewis Hamilton added $15.6 Million McLaren F1 to his incredible car collection

Lewis Hamilton deserves big money but not $200 million

Ahead of the Chinese GP that year, Hamilton was leading the standings. Rosberg on the other hand was third, 10 points behind his teammate. The German was trying to challenge Hamilton and win his first World Title.

There was a lot of speculation surrounding Hamilton’s contract, and certain rumors emerged which said that the numbers were adding up to $200 million. The person making these negotiations were none other than Hamilton himself.

“I think he deserves a lot of money,” Rosberg said to Spanish newspaper El Mundo while laughing. “But I wouldn’t give him 200 million!”

Hamilton did end up signing his bumper deal in the coming months. He signed a three year deal, worth more than $150 million that made him the most expensive F1 driver of all time.

On track however, Hamilton showed why he deserved so much money. He won the 2015 Title with three races to spare, and won the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 Championships as well.

Also read: “Fernando Alonso straight up f*cked Alpine!”- How the 41-year old blocked Oscar Piastri’s move to Alpine

About the author

Somin Bhattacharjee

Somin Bhattacharjee

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Basketball Editor Somin Bhattacharjee first discovered the game during the 2014 FIBA World Cup. Not long after, he turned to the NBA and found himself drawn to the Golden State Warriors — right at the start of Stephen Curry’s rise. Over time, the admiration turned into full-blown support for the team, one that continues even as the Curry era approaches its twilight. A true hoophead, Somin also follows EuroLeague basketball closely and enjoys exploring the game beyond the NBA. Though holding a bachelor's degree in marketing, Somin discovered his true calling in writing. Since 2021, he has penned over 3,000 articles for TheSportsRush, covering everything from breaking news to sharp opinion pieces and detailed exclusives. He thrives on writing about in-game moments and the reactions that make basketball a uniquely emotional sport. Beyond basketball, Somin plays different sports including soccer and remains a passionate fan of Spanish football giants Real Madrid

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