Otmar Szafnauer has revealed the thoughts video games Lewis Hamilton used to play on Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg throughout their intense Method 1 rivalry.
Hamilton and Rosberg shared 4 years as team-mates on the Brackley-based group between 2013 and 2016.
Throughout this time, F1 noticed some of the dramatic rivalries ensue, oftentimes culminating in on-track crashes (learn Barcelona 2016) and off-track bust ups for the Mercedes duo.
Szafnauer, who on the time was the Staff Principal of the Drive India F1 Staff (now Aston Martin), revealed that so much additionally went on behind the scenes with Hamilton participating in a type of ‘psychological battle’ with the German driver.
“Lewis is de facto good on the psychological video games, which, I’m positive you wish to hear,” he stated on the Excessive Efficiency podcast.
The Romanian-American engineer recollected an incident the place Hamilton had hid Rosberg’s soccer to interrupt his rhythm.
“Rosberg used to love to kick the soccer round earlier than the beginning of a race to get his… Everybody does various things,” he started.
“We must always clarify. I see it on a regular basis. [Pierre] Gasly does it, anyone dropping the tennis balls and also you’ve bought to catch it. Others kick the soccer round. Some do keepy uppies.
“Rosberg cherished to prepare for a race. Most likely relaxed him, bought his reactions sharp, and guess what Lewis used to do? Disguise the ball. He used to cover the ball.”
The Michael Schumacher trick Lewis Hamilton used in opposition to Nico Rosberg
Earlier than Hamilton, Rosberg had one other World Champion to cope with at Mercedes within the form of Michael Schumacher.
Whereas arguably previous his explosive prime, Schumacher was nonetheless not afraid to rile his team-mate as much as get a bonus.
Szafnauer revealed one other occasion the place Hamilton tried to get into Rosberg’s thoughts which reminded host Jake Humphrey to remember an incident with Schumacher and Rosberg at Monaco.
“He additionally knew that perhaps you want a little bit rest room break earlier than. He’d go within the driver’s loos and keep there,” Szafnauer stated.
This prompted Humphrey to say, “In Monaco. Rosberg wanted a pee, and ended up standing at the back of the storage, peeing in a bottle.”
Szafnauer replied, “So Schumacher did it. So Lewis most likely realized. However, Lewis, disguise the ball, I like that.”
Rosberg did find yourself getting one over Hamilton. He received the 2016 drivers’ title on the season-finale in Abu Dhabi earlier than calling it quits on his F1 profession throughout the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony.
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