The fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2015 is still the most expensive fight in the sport’s history. Lewis Hamilton witnessed the ‘fight of the century’ firsthand. After witnessing the fight up close, Hamilton got inspired. However, it wasn’t Floyd Mayweather, the winner, that inspired Hamilton. Instead, it was Manny Pacquiao.

Speaking to the media after the fight, Hamilton revealed it was the Filipino fighter he took the shine to. Manny ‘PacMan’ Pacquiao is regarded as one of the greatest professional boxers of all time. Moreover, Pacquiao is the only boxer in the sport’s history to win 12 different titles in eight different weight divisions.

However, despite his loss against Mayweather, Pacquiao’s style inspired Hamilton. Hamilton drew inspiration from the Filipino to attack his opponents in the 2015 Spanish GP.

“When I was watching the fight, I felt Pacquiao won,” Hamilton said. “He was the attacking one. I felt I had more similarities with him, watching his style. I was thinking he’s the attacking guy, he’s out there, he’s hungry. He wants it more than anything.”

Hamilton might’ve adopted the style but only finished as a runner-up in the race behind the closest rival and teammate, Nico Rosberg.

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Despite the runners-up in the 2015 Spanish GP, Hamilton put Pacquiao’s attacking approach to the rest of the season and won the driver’s championship. It was the 2015 US Grand Prix where Hamilton won his third championship and also became a part of the infamous ‘cap’ incident.

Lewis Hamilton wins the US GP and the drivers’ championship ahead of a sulking Nico Rosberg

Despite his best efforts, Nico Rosberg lost out on two back-to-back championships to Hamilton. The 2015 one might’ve been the boiling point as Rosberg pulled up his socks and won the 2016 championship.

We can perhaps pinpoint the tipping point for Rosberg in 2015. It was the 2015 US GP that Rosberg lost his cool and threw his cap toward Hamilton in the cool-down area. The incident occurred after Hamilton took the lead early on from Rosberg and won the race and the championship. A dejected Rosberg threw his cap back at Hamilton, who tossed it to him in the first place.

Rosberg went on to win the remaining three races and the opening four of the 2016 season.

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We are not hinting it was the cap toss from Hamilton that lit the fire within Rosberg. However, the German did not back down since and did not rest until he lifted the championship trophy.