Nico Rosberg has joked that Lewis Hamilton isn’t allowed in his house despite the seven-time world champion bringing round Christmas presents for his daughters every year.
Rosberg called time on his F1 career back in 2016, just weeks after finally delivering the world championship he so craved. Since then he’s gone into various business ventures whilst Hamilton has remained very much focused on matters on track.
The German has been with his wife since they were teenagers and they have two daughters together – with Hamilton remembering to treat them every year whenever December comes around.
Rosberg was recently on the NDR Talkshow in Germany and he was quizzed on his former Mercedes team-mate as the presenter asked: “The other weak point is probably a painful topic for you. Both your daughters are Lewis Hamilton fans?”
The 2016 world champion replied: “That’s true too. That’s even more than a weak point. That’s a big problem.” His wife, Vivian, then revealed that Hamilton still brings gifts for her daughters every Christmas. She said: “Yes, he always gives them Barbies for Christmas.”
Rosberg then praise Hamilton’s kindness, before joking that he’s not actually allowed in their house: “No, that’s great. That’s nice of him. We kind of had an enmity. Now both children have a huge box of presents from him on their doorstep every Christmas. It’s a nice approach.”
Hamilton and Rosberg were involved in a hugely competitive environment for three years when they continued to battle for the world championship. Their Mercedes was the class of the field and the two men dominated but Hamilton claimed bragging rights in 2014 and 2015.
Rosberg eventually got over the line in 2016, winning by just five points as the championship went down to the final race. He and Hamilton had come through karting together with their rivalry spanning years and the German confessed it was almost impossible to remain the best of friends.
Previously speaking about his relationship with Hamilton, Rosberg told Eurosport: “When you’re fighting for success in every race and for titles, it doesn’t work anymore.
“It was a build-up from one race to the next. If you want to decide the world championship for yourself, you can’t play ‘love, peace and harmony’. You have to test limits and go into grey areas to win, especially when two drivers are at such a high level. Then it often gets tight.”
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