How Did Nico Rosberg Manage to Beat Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher?

“Nico Rosberg is 2nd. He takes the championship! 34 years after his father. It’s like father, it’s like son for the Rosbergs!” Nico Rosberg waited all his career for this one moment & he was quite happy to beat his friend turned nemesis finally. However, it was not as easy for Rosberg to finally edge out Lewis Hamilton in 2016. Many argue whether he was the faster driver of the duo or not. Well, given he beat Michael Schumacher (a fading Schumacher, yes) convincingly in their 3 years on the team, there is something special that Rosberg had to beat the 2 most successful F1 drivers.

Nico was one of the first Mercedes drivers. Thus, he will have got things in his way as Michael Schumacher was coming back from retirement. Meanwhile, when Hamilton joined after Schumacher retired in 2012, Nico knew that he needed to beat Lewis (whom he had never beaten throughout their racing times) to retain the top dog position at Brackley. So, what was the secret sauce to the 2016 champion’s success?

Nico Rosberg decoded: The key elements to beat Michael & Lewis

Given Mercedes was not as competitive during Schumacher’s stint, there is little one could gauge from the differences in Nico & Michael’s styles. As they were surviving more & competing less until 2012. However, when Lewis Hamilton came in, the Silver Arrows got things going on the up. That started the real competitive period between the Mercedes men. F1 veteran & journalist Peter Windsor decoded this in his YouTube Live for the Japanese GP debrief.

Windsor answered a fan’s question that cited how Nico beat Lewis & Michael & was he a short or long corner driver. On this Windsor explained, “I think Nico was sort of a manufactured short-corner driver. He had definitely understood it & he had worked hard at it. I don’t think it came naturally to him when the variables were starting to come into play.” Peter explained how the German driver could get a bit edgy if some mitigating factors like cross winds came his way.

Despite that, Rosberg had his adaptability sorted to compromise his short corner driving style & compete with Lewis & Michael. Peter further added a few situational examples too. He stated, “Let’s say if he is getting cross winds, & he’s got the oil on the track & things are starting to slide around & Lewis is in his mirrors. Even if Lewis gets him at that point, Nico was still pretty good. Nico the standard default Nico was very quick.”

Certainly, Rosberg worked exceptionally well on his race craft, qualifying & overall mental strength to get the better of Hamilton. Beating Schumacher was a great achievement, but given he was in the twilight of his career, past his prime, Nico knew his real achievement would be beating Lewis.

Read More: Years After Toxic Rivalry With Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton Reflects on Radical Changes Made to Become a Better Teammate

Eventually, on that unreal day when Hamilton “didn’t play the team game” in Abu Dhabi, all of Nico’s efforts came to fruition to hold on to his maiden & only title. It was a huge moment to edge out arguably one of the best drivers in F1. Of course, Rosberg was going to wear it as a badge of honor all his life long & he does!

Rosberg – the man who beat Lewis Hamilton in equal machinery!

Often, fans cite Nico Rosberg to be gloating about his achievement of beating Lewis Hamilton in the same machinery. The point has his logic & validity for sure. People often say drivers beating the other for the championship in different team cars doesn’t prove one is better than the other. As F1 is geared a lot toward the car, two teams may rarely develop their cars at the same level, everyone wants to be the best. But, does Nico have to mention it every time?

Perhaps, it is just the elation of beating 2 seven-time world champions & Lewis being his chief nemesis, that gets more glorification in Rosberg’s mind. Regardless, he isn’t the only person who beat Hamilton in the same car. Jenson Button has done it in 2011 be it just finishing 2nd in the standings. Even Fernando Alonso can technically say he tied Hamilton on points in 2007, so he did not lose for sure!

Anyways this is a debate that carries on even today with Max Verstappen & Lewis Hamilton’s rivalry. They had vastly dynamic cars in 2021. So even if Max won, was he the better driver? No one could give the correct answer as they may have to race in the same Mercedes or Red Bull as Nico & Lewis did. Ah, that would be the most unrealistic fantasy!

WATCH THIS STORY | Nico Rosberg’s Embarrassing Moment Facing Off Lewis Hamilton at the 2023 Spanish GP 

What do you think about Rosberg beating Hamilton & Schumacher though?