“Nico Rosberg banned for being an anti-vaxxer?”- 2016 World Champion not allowed to enter Formula 1 paddock for refusing to take Covid 19 vaccines

"Nico Rosberg banned for being an anti-vaxxer?"- 2016 World Champion not allowed to enter Formula 1 paddock for refusing to take Covid 19 vaccines

2016 F1 Champion Nico Rosberg did not take the mandatory Covid 19 vaccines, which led to him being banned from the paddock. 

Rosberg was not present in the F1 paddock for the Monaco GP two weeks ago. This was surprising to many fans because the former Mercedes driver resides in the principality.

Latest reports however, have revealed the reason behind Rosberg’s absence. He has refused to take the Covid 19 vaccines, and that is against the protocol for people entering the paddock. He featured in Sky Germany’s coverage of the race, but it was from his home in Monaco and not on site.

Rosberg won the World Title in 2016, which gave him a paddock pass for life. Regardless, the Covid 19 vaccine protocols are so strict that they don’t spare even former World Champions of the sport. Rosberg explained his decision to not get vaccinated to Sports1.

“I recovered well from the corona disease and therefore have strong antibodies,” he said. “Under these circumstances, my doctor advised me that vaccination would make absolutely no sense. I also have my antibodies tested regularly.”

Also read: “I am stupid, I am stupid!” – When Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc called himself ‘Stupid’ after crashing in the qualifying session at the Azerbaijan Grand Prix in 2019

F1 Twitter reacts to news of Nico Rosberg being banned from the paddock

Fans on Twitter bashed the German former driver for refusing to comply with the Covid protocols. He has been under fire heavily over the last few years, particularly for his criticism of former teammate Lewis Hamilton.

For the first time in over two seasons, an F1 season is running smoothly and normally after Covid restrictions were lifted. Most countries however, do not allow unvaccinated personnel to attend these events.

The fact that a former World Champion like Rosberg is not someone who’s encouraging people to protect themselves by taking the vaccine, does not sit right with F1 fans.

Also read: “He’s much slower on the straights and faster on the corners”- Is Charles Leclerc actually faster than his Ferrari teammate Carlos Sainz?

Post Edited By: Somin Bhattacharjee
Lewis Hamilton Monaco GP Nico Rosberg

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Somin Bhattacharjee

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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