According to some, Lewis Hamilton has now established himself as clearly the de-facto 'number 1' at Mercedes.
Indeed, as that pecking-order appears ever-clearer, all of the fuel of the earlier bitter rivalry between the Briton and Nico Rosberg has now burned out.
"I just want to mention what a great teammate Nico is," Hamilton said in a telling recent tribute as Mercedes secured its second consecutive constructors' title.
Mercedes officials agree.
"Nico is incredibly important for the team," boss Toto Wolff told Germany's Sport Bild.
"He was here from the beginning and was an essential building block of our success and a real team player.
"Maybe Lewis is right now the strongest guy out there, but I would never write Nico off. The differences between them are still only marginal," he added.
Indeed, Wolff said that even if Hamilton does wrap up his third drivers' title this year - and potentially even this weekend in Austin - he will not be granted de-facto 'number 1' status.
"Both will continue to have the same conditions, both will be consulted in the development of the car and we will take into account both of their wishes," said Wolff.
Not only that, German Rosberg is firmly under contract.
"We have a long-term contract," Wolff confirms. "If some day we are unhappy we would say it, but that is not the situation we are in."
Rosberg, however, fell behind even Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel in the drivers' championship in Russia, but he says that does not bother him.
"I am fighting only for the title," said Rosberg, "and thinking about nothing else." But when asked if Hamilton might eventually help him displace Vettel, he insisted: "The best thing I can do at the moment is win."
Rosberg: "I am fighting Hamilton, not Vettel"
- Published on 19 Oct 2015 13:08
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- By: Kees Schooneman
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Jan 26
I. Hadjar
- 1:18.159
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Jan 27
M. Verstappen
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Jan 28
A. Antonelli
- 1:17.362
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Jan 29
G. Russell
- 1:16.445
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Jan 30
L. Hamilton
- 1:16.348
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 11
L. Norris
- 1:34.669
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Feb 12
C. Leclerc
- 1:34.273
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Feb 13
A. Antonelli
- 1:33.669
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Bahrain International Circuit - Winter testing
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Feb 18
G. Russell
- 1:33.459
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Feb 19
A. Antonelli
- 1:32.803
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Feb 20
C. Leclerc
- 1:31.992
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
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Spain
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Formula 1 Calendar - 2026
Date
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Spain
Circuit de Catalunya
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
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Bahrain
Bahrain International Circuit
6 - Mar 8
Australia
Albert Park
13 - Mar 15
27 - Mar 29
Japan
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10 - Apr 12
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17 - Apr 19
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1 - May 3
United States of America
Miami International Autodrome
22 - May 24
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Gilles Villeneuve
5 - Jun 7
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Monte Carlo
12 - Jun 14
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Circuit de Catalunya
26 - Jun 28
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Red Bull Ring
3 - Jul 5
United Kingdom
Silverstone
17 - Jul 19
Belgium
Spa-Francorchamps
24 - Jul 26
Hungary
Hungaroring
21 - Aug 23
Netherlands
Circuit Zandvoort
4 - Sep 6
Italy
Monza
Driver profile
- Team Ferrari
- Points 3,724
- Podiums 137
- Grand Prix 245
- Country United Kingdom
- Date of b. Jan 7 1985 (41)
- Place of b. Tewin, United Kingdom
- Weight 68 kg
- Length 1.74 m
- 485,810 comments on Ferrari
67 members have this team as their favourite
Tweets about Lewis Hamilton
Team profile
- Team name Mercedes
- Base Brackley, Germany
- Michael Schumacher 3
- Nico Rosberg 4
- Nico Rosberg 6
- Michael Schumacher 7
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 8
- Nico Rosberg 9
- Lewis Hamilton 10
- Andrea Kimi Antonelli 12
- Lewis Hamilton 44
- George Russell 63
- Valtteri Bottas 77
- 639,400 comments on Mercedes
- 59 members have this team as their favourite
- Tweets about Mercedes
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