Lewis Hamilton a great driver ... but no friend of mine, says Nico Rosberg
New Formula One world champion rules out any close ties with Briton as long as they are racing each other
Formula One world champion Nico Rosberg hailed Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton as one of the greatest drivers of all time on Wednesday but ruled out forging any friendly ties with the Briton as long as they race each other.
Rosberg, who lost out to Hamilton in the previous two years, made it third time lucky when he clinched his maiden title with a second-place finish behind the triple world champion at the season finale in Abu Dhabi on Sunday.
The pair have been at loggerheads all season and their frosty relationship had been compared by Mercedes boss Toto Wolff as a volcano ready to erupt.
Hamilton compounded matters further when he deliberately slowed the pace from the front in Abu Dhabi, hoping to back Rosberg into a position where rival drivers could overtake the German in a last-ditch effort to overhaul his 12-point deficit.
“Lewis is one of the best of all time. He sets a high standard,” the 31-year-old Rosberg said during a visit to his Wiesbaden birthplace in Germany.
