Nico Rosberg Dismisses Mercedes Sabotage Theory Against Lewis Hamilton
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Nico Rosberg dismisses conspiracy theories about Mercedes favoring George Russell over Lewis Hamilton, highlighting Toto Wolff’s firm stance against online abuse.
Nico Rosberg has refuted online conspiracy theories suggesting Mercedes favored George Russell over Lewis Hamilton during the F1 2024 season. The former World Champion pointed to key evidence from the season finale in Abu Dhabi that disproves claims of intentional sabotage against Hamilton.
Rosberg: Toto Wolff’s Radio Call Proves No Bias
Throughout Hamilton’s final season with Mercedes before his move to Ferrari in F1 2025, some fans speculated that the team had deliberately supported Russell, the driver who will remain with the team.
However, speaking on the Sky F1 podcast after the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Rosberg dismissed those theories, citing an in-race team radio exchange as proof.
“I’m pretty sure they didn’t favor George. One of the best times to see that was Toto Wolff’s comment in the race, when Lewis came out of the box and was 14 seconds behind George,” Rosberg explained.
“Toto came on the radio and said, ‘You can do this, Lewis.’ If I was George and I listened back on this, I’d be like, ‘Toto, hey, what’s up with that? You should be neutral here.’”
Rosberg believes Wolff’s encouragement of Hamilton was an attempt to publicly prove that Mercedes was not favoring Russell.
“Mercedes was under a lot of pressure because, every time Lewis got beaten by George, some fans said, ‘Oh, this is sabotage,’” Rosberg continued.
“It was so important for Toto and Mercedes to show the world there was no preferential treatment toward George because Lewis is a legend. They went to great lengths to ensure fairness.”
Mercedes Battles Online Abuse and Conspiracy Theories
Speculation over Mercedes’ treatment of Hamilton intensified earlier in the season when an anonymous email accused the team of “systemic sabotage.” The email, falsely claiming to be from a Mercedes insider, triggered an investigation.
Toto Wolff Slams "Online Cowards"
Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff confirmed that the email did not originate from a team member and was likely part of a broader online attack. He also stated that the matter had been reported to the police.
“It was upsetting, particularly when somebody was talking about death threats,” Wolff said.
“We have instructed a full investigation – police are inquiring, we are researching the IP address and phone number. Online abuse like this has to stop.”
Wolff made it clear that the accusations of sabotage were baseless, reaffirming the team’s commitment to fair competition.
“Lewis was part of this team for 12 years. We trust each other, and we wanted to end our time together on a high,” Wolff added.
“If you don’t believe that, just look at the Constructors’ Championship – we wanted both cars to succeed. To all the conspiracy theorists out there, take a shrink.”
Hamilton Moves On, Mercedes Prepares for F1 2025
With Lewis Hamilton leaving Mercedes for Ferrari in 2025, the Brackley-based team will now focus on rebuilding with George Russell and a yet-to-be-announced second driver.
As the debate over Mercedes' handling of Hamilton's final season continues, Rosberg’s comments add further weight to the argument that Russell was not given an unfair advantage. With the team looking ahead to the next chapter, their priority remains securing a stronger campaign in F1 2025.
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