Nico Rosberg has opened up about the hefty fine he received from Mercedes following his infamous collision with Lewis Hamilton in 2016. The incident remains one of the most talked-about moments of their intense rivalry.
The crash occurred during the Spanish Grand Prix, where the two teammates had secured the front row of the grid. Hamilton started on pole, but a slow getaway allowed Rosberg to get a better run heading into the first corner.
As the pair approached Turn 3, Rosberg accidentally engaged the wrong engine power mode. Instead of deploying his energy for maximum performance, he was harvesting it, which drastically reduced his pace at a critical moment.
This mistake allowed Hamilton to take the inside line for Turn 4, ultimately leading to contact between the two Mercedes cars. The incident caused significant damage and disrupted the race for both drivers.
Reflecting on the event, Rosberg described the fine from Mercedes as “painful,” highlighting the financial and emotional cost of the clash. The episode is still remembered as a defining moment in the fierce 2016 championship battle between the two teammates.
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