Nico Rosberg recounts childhood accident with "complete nutcase" Lewis Hamilton
Nico Rosberg shared a wild childhood memory involving Lewis Hamilton during a rain delay at the Belgian Grand Prix
World Champion Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 shakes hands with team mate and race winner Lewis Hamilton, Mercedes AMG F1
Photo by: Glenn Dunbar / Motorsport Images
Nico Rosberg recounted a childhood memory with his former Formula 1 team-mate Lewis Hamilton during the Belgian Grand Prix weekend.
As the race at Spa-Francorchamps was delayed by 80 minutes due to adverse weather conditions, the 2016 champion took the opportunity to share a wild story from when he and Hamilton were close friends, branding the Ferrari driver a "complete nutcase".
“We were always on holiday together because we were best friends at the time," Rosberg explained to Sky Sports F1. "He was at my parents' house. Always with an engine - we were full speed with everything.
“Lewis was proper nuts, he was nuts completely! I remember once we went jet-skiing together. I was on the back of him on the same jet ski. I had such a big shunt, I flew off in the biggest way. Then we went with two stand-up jet-skis. I watched him go off this giant wave, from the ferry. He did not lift. I have never seen someone go so high airborne.
"He came crashing down and knocked open his chin when he smacked down on the jet ski as he landed. So he was lying there half-unconscious! I had to go and check that he was okay. His chin was cut open. Complete nutcase…”
Rosberg and Hamilton were team-mates at Mercedes for four years between 2013 and 2016. After becoming childhood friends, their relationship became strained as their on-track rivalry intensified. But after Rosberg retired from F1 having won the championship in 2016, the pair eventually repaired their friendship and now have a "mutual" relationship.
Giving an update on his relationship with the seven-time champion, Rosberg added, “We live in the same building, so we catch up from time to time. We have a very nice and mutual relationship now.”
Nico Rosberg, SKY Sport
Photo by: Jakub Porzycki / NurPhoto / Getty Images
Hamilton crossed the line to finish seventh at the Belgian Grand Prix after starting from 18th, which Rosberg called a "super job".
"Ferrari will be pleased Mercedes struggled because if they keep up their form, that helps a lot in the Constructors' Championship a lot," Rosberg explained to Sky Sports F1.
"I guess they will be generally quite positive. Nevertheless, they are still 20 seconds off McLaren which is a big chunk."
Photos from Belgian GP - Race
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
Belgian GP - Sunday, in photos
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.- The Motorsport.com Team
Share Or Save This Story
Kimi Antonelli champagne bottle message earns praise after F1 Belgian GP win
Isack Hadjar lauded after impressive Red Bull recovery at F1 Belgian GP
Karun Chandhok urges George Russell to demand Mercedes answers amid "new territory"
Lewis Hamilton keeps fourth in F1 Belgian GP as mechanic escapes unhurt
Ferrari criticises "mega harsh" Lewis Hamilton penalty in F1 Belgian GP
Why Charles Leclerc’s battle of the brakes has left him trailing Lewis Hamilton
"Kimi can buy me dinner." Valtteri Bottas jokes about his part in Antonelli’s Belgian GP win
Why Charles Leclerc wasn’t penalised for clash with Oscar Piastri in Belgian GP
Why Fred Vasseur's steady hand is exactly what fervent Ferrari needs right now
Latest news
Who slept worst last night: Jolyon Palmer
Who slept best last night: Kimi Antonelli
Complete NASCAR Cup points standings after North Wilkesboro 2026
Official race results: 2026 NASCAR Cup at North Wilkesboro
Feature
Momentum restored: Antonelli overcomes bad luck to reclaim control at the Belgian GP
The data that reveals how different Spa is under F1's 2026 rules
How Antonelli found half a second to thwart Verstappen in Belgian GP qualifying
How Franco Colapinto has survived and thrived in the hothouse intensity of F1
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Top Comments