After three years of intense battle with Lewis Hamilton for the F1 Driver’s Championship, Nico Rosberg finally claimed his title in 2016. However, Rosberg’s decision to retire as soon as he won his first championship left fans wanting more battles between the two Mercedes drivers. Who knew that the two rivals would come face to face yet again? However, they did not do it the way the fans expected. The age-old rivalry between the two Formula 1 icons witnessed a fierce resurgence in the Extreme E championship that found its roots in 2021.

This season, the rivalry between Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton is peaking yet again as Rosberg’s RXR secured a decisive third victory at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix in Chile. It was a crushing blow to Lewis Hamilton’s aspirations of clinching a consecutive Extreme E title after winning the championship in 2022.

Rosberg X Racing takes the championship lead, handing a huge blow to Lewis Hamilton and X44 Racing

The culmination of the 2022 Extreme E Championship became a showdown between Rosberg X Racing (RXR), led by Nico Rosberg, and X44 Vida Carbon Racing, owned by Lewis Hamilton. The two former Mercedes teammates turned team owners battled fiercely, with Hamilton’s team eventually claiming the championship title.

However, this year’s penultimate race in Chile saw RXR stage a remarkable comeback. Nico Rosberg’s team not only secured its third victory of the season at the Antofagasta Minerals Copper X Prix but also propelled themselves to the top of the championship standings, effectively dashing Hamilton’s hopes of securing a second consecutive Extreme E title.

Johan Kristoffersson and Mikaela Ahlin-Kottulinsky finished 0.35 seconds ahead of ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team, solidifying RXR’s lead in the championship. This leaves X44 Vida Carbon Racing, who had initially topped the Qualifiers and claimed the third spot on the podium, now out of contention for the title.

As the championship heads into the final round, the current standings are as follows: Rosberg X Racing: 164 points, ACCIONA | SAINZ XE Team: 158 points, Veloce Racing: 129 points, No.99 GMC HUMMER EV Chip Ganassi Racing: 105 points, X44 Vida Carbon Racing: 103 points, ABT CUPRA XE: 75 points, Andretti Altawkilat Extreme E: 71 points, NEOM McLaren Extreme E Team: 57 points, Carl Cox Motorsport: 48 points, and JBXE: 46 points.

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As the dust settles for Lewis Hamilton’s team in the world of Extreme E, another exciting development is making waves in the Formula 1 paddock.

McLaren hires former team principal of Hamilton’s X44 Extreme E venture

McLaren has made a significant move by appointing Stephanie Carlin, the former team principal of Lewis Hamilton’s X44 Racing team, as their F1 Business Operations Director. This strategic move is set to take effect in January 2024 and signals McLaren’s commitment to strengthening its leadership team. The move will inject fresh perspectives into McLaren’s approach to F1 operations, leveraging Carlin’s wealth of experience from her tenure as Team Principal at Rodin Carlin and her leadership at Team X44 in Extreme E.

McLaren officially welcomed Carlin with a statement expressing their delight at her recruitment: “We’re pleased to confirm the recruitment of Stephanie Carlin as F1 Business Operations Director. Stephanie will join McLaren in January 2024 from Rodin Carlin, where she was Team Principal of their F3 and F1 Academy Teams, as well as Team Principal of Team X44 in Extreme E.”

The significance of Carlin’s appointment is further highlighted by her connection with McLaren’s star driver, Lando Norris. Norris, who has risen through the ranks of junior series with the team, spent two successful years with Carlin in F3, securing the European F3 title in 2017.

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So, do you think Rosberg X Racing can claim the Extreme E title for the second time after winning the inaugural championship in 2021? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.