{"id":1881786,"date":"2026-04-13T14:12:20","date_gmt":"2026-04-13T11:12:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1881786"},"modified":"2026-04-13T14:12:20","modified_gmt":"2026-04-13T11:12:20","slug":"toto-wolff-reveals-he-fired-lewis-hamilton-and-nico-rosberg-before-dramatic-mercedes-f1-u-turn","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/?p=1881786","title":{"rendered":"Toto Wolff reveals he &#8220;fired&#8221; Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg before dramatic Mercedes F1 U-turn"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;]<\/p>\n<article>\n<header id=\"lbs-article\" class=\"article header article-header section layout layout--article-header\">\n<div class=\"col headline\">\n<div>\n<h1>Toto Wolff reveals he &#8220;fired&#8221; Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg before dramatic Mercedes F1 U-turn<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Toto Wolff has revealed he was prepared to fire both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in 2016.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"section two-column\">\n<div class=\"col article-info\">\n<div>\n<address> Lewis Larkam <\/address>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div><time datetime=\"2026-04-13T15:12:20+01:00\">13 Apr 2026<\/time><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col article-actions\">\n<div class=\"block block-better-social-sharing-buttons block-social-sharing-buttons-block\">\n<div class=\"social-sharing-buttons\"><span class=\"ssb-title\"> Share<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/header>\n<div id=\"lbs-content\" class=\"content wide-two-column-sticky section layout layout--wide-two-column-sticky\">\n<div class=\"col first-column\">\n<div>\n<div>\n<figure> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><figcaption>\n<div>Rosberg and Hamilton had a fierce battle for the 2016 F1 title<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-preferred-source\">\n<div class=\"preferred-source-cta\">  Add as a preferred source <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed his stunning plan to sack both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the height of their fierce Formula 1 rivalry in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Hamilton and Rosberg engaged in exclusive intra-team battles for world championships during a spell of Mercedes domination between 2014 and 2016. After Hamilton prevailed to secure the 2014 and 2015 world titles, Rosberg fought back in 2016 to claim his one and only world championship before sensationally retiring from F1.<\/p>\n<p>The Silver Arrows pair had several on-track clashes during an intense battle for F1 title supremacy in 2016, the most notable coming at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Hamilton and Rosberg wiped each other out on the opening lap.<\/p>\n<p>Wolff was left so angry in the aftermath of the Barcelona incident he wanted to fire both drivers on the spot, he has now sensationally admitted in an interview with<em> The Athletic<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re representing the Mercedes brand, and you just have to accept that it\u2019s not all about you,\u201d Wolff said. \u201cSo, fact: they are competitors. We accept the competition. We accept them racing against each other as long as they respect certain red lines. And that is very simple: don\u2019t crash into each other.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cAnd I have never had any fear of making that very clear. In 2016, [Nico] Rosberg and [Lewis] Hamilton crashed, and then they crTiashed again. So I fired them. I called my chief executive officer, Dieter Zetsche [at the Mercedes-Benz automotive company]. and said, \u201cListen, you need to sign something.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd he called me back and said, \u201cYou\u2019re making both drivers redundant?\u201d And I said, \u201cYeah, because otherwise they won\u2019t understand how important it is to the interest of the brand and the team above their own.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1844939a118cbe8f6ade736c78a2265f83d5ed1c2b327ab67d3f539714461a36\">  Kimi Antonelli F1 title battle \u201ca warzone\u201d for George Russell   Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Wolff added: \u201cIt was their personal rivalry that took over. And from a healthy competition, it went to a rivalry and it became animosity. And that\u2019s just not something I would allow in the organisation, and based on these factors, we sent them an email and said, \u201cAt the moment, you\u2019re not part of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wolff explained that he ultimately backed down because he could not decide who was ultimately at fault for the collision.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn Wednesday, we called them and said, \u201cCome in tomorrow,\u201d and I said, \u201cMy problem is that I don\u2019t know whose fault it was.\u201d Because it\u2019s nuanced. Like everything in life, it\u2019s never 100 percent wrong,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-97f737b37d87432b456b2a99be99d90e10bdc25d88ac3f6c50da8fd13864b268\">  Lewis Hamilton returns to F1 track with Ferrari for crucial Pirelli test   The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt may be 50-50. It might be 51-49. It\u2019d be 70-30. And I can\u2019t judge. And so what I said to them is that if it happens again, one has to go, and I may make a mistake. I may send the wrong one away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who need to repay their mortgages who work in the [Mercedes] factories, what do they think? That you two crash into each other because you don\u2019t like each other? And it directly affects the lives of two and a half thousand people. Who do you think you are? And that\u2019s an important understanding that you need to have with your drivers.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2>In this article<\/h2>\n<div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">F1<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Lewis Hamilton<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Mercedes<\/div>\n<div class=\"field_keywords\">Nico Rosberg<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"block block-next-prev\">\n<div class=\"next-prev-pager contextual-region\">\n<div class=\"items\">\n<div class=\"item prev\">\n<h3>  Previous<\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> How F1&#8217;s regulation change highlights the gap between the haves and the have-nots<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/2268868295.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"item next\">\n<h3> Next <\/h3>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\"> Helmut Marko calls for immediate F1 rules change after landing new ambassador role<\/div>\n<source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=1920&amp;format=webp 1920w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=1800&amp;format=webp 1800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;format=webp 1600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=1500&amp;format=webp 1500w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=1200&amp;format=webp 1200w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=900&amp;format=webp 900w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=800&amp;format=webp 800w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=600&amp;format=webp 600w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1347449_hires.jpg?width=400&amp;format=webp 400w\" sizes=\"(min-width:1024px) 710px, (min-width:768px) 62vw, 97vw\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-author-block block block-configurable-views-block\">\n<div class=\"author-view grid-view js-view-dom-id-c833585c87216599b83187a4cedc2d71382b9b4cd26d0e96015213e6aca376cd\">\n<div class=\"card user default\">\n<div class=\"image\"> <source srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=270&amp;format=webp 270w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=180&amp;format=webp 180w,https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/pictures\/1bc46a82-ac76-40ea-9cf5-d309b802b0ef_1.jpeg?height=90&amp;format=webp 90w\" sizes=\"100px\" type=\"image\/webp\" \/><\/div>\n<div class=\"info\">\n<div class=\"header\">\n<div class=\"text\">\n<div class=\"name\">Lewis Larkam<\/div>\n<div class=\"role\">F1 Editor<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"desc\">\n<p>Lewis regularly attends Grands Prix for Crash.net around the world. Often reporting on the action from the ground, Lewis tells the stories of the people who matter in the sport.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"views-element-container block block-views-blockrelated-content-related-content-block\">\n<h3>More News<\/h3>\n<div class=\"grid-view grid-2 js-view-dom-id-982e602346b3bca569b5b2ff525fbb3721dee7dbe86aba21c2f396e0963ed5e7\">\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>F1 championship leader hints at \u201cmajor changes\u201d coming for Ferrari<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775640020\"> 08\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/m586525_f1_grand_prix_of_china.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Ferrari has been Mercedes' closest challenger so far \" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Toto Wolff told what he can\u2019t do as Mercedes F1 title tension predicted<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775565443\"> 07\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1399570_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Antonelli leads Russell after three races in F1 2026\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Former Ferrari F1 winner wary of Lewis Hamilton\u2019s early 2026 results<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775482101\"> 06\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_1403071_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Lewis Hamilton, Ferrari, 2026 Japanese GP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Kimi Antonelli \u201cnot worrying\u201d about championship after taking F1 title lead, but should he?<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775303520\"> 04\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1402413_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Antonelli became the first Italian since Fisichella in 2006 to win a Grand Prix\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Toto Wolff hails &#8216;unpredictable&#8217; Kimi Antonelli F1 win rate<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775223360\"> 03\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/xpb_1404498_hires.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Andrea Kimi Antonelli, Mercedes, 2026 Japanese GP\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"card card_default\">\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div class=\"links\">\n<div class=\"sections\"> F1  News <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Mercedes chief thought Kimi Antonelli was a \u2018lost child\u2019 when they first met<\/p>\n<div class=\"card-info\">\n<div class=\"time\" data-timestamp=\"1775134570\"> 02\/04\/26<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-03\/m586713_f1_chinese_grand_prix_2026.jpg?aspect_ratio=1:1\" alt=\"Antonelli kisses the winners' trophy on the Shanghai podium\" loading=\"lazy\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col second-column\">\n<div class=\"sticky\">\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<div class=\"summary body\">\n<p>Toto Wolff has revealed he was prepared to fire both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in 2016.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed his stunning plan to sack both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the height of their fierce Formula 1 rivalry in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Hamilton and Rosberg engaged in exclusive intra-team battles for world championships during a spell of Mercedes domination between 2014 and 2016. After Hamilton prevailed to secure the 2014 and 2015 world titles, Rosberg fought back in 2016 to claim his one and only world championship before sensationally retiring from F1.<\/p>\n<p>The Silver Arrows pair had several on-track clashes during an intense battle for F1 title supremacy in 2016, the most notable coming at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Hamilton and Rosberg wiped each other out on the opening lap.<\/p>\n<p>Wolff was left so angry in the aftermath of the Barcelona incident he wanted to fire both drivers on the spot, he has now sensationally admitted in an interview with<em> The Athletic<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re representing the Mercedes brand, and you just have to accept that it\u2019s not all about you,\u201d Wolff said. \u201cSo, fact: they are competitors. We accept the competition. We accept them racing against each other as long as they respect certain red lines. And that is very simple: don\u2019t crash into each other.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cAnd I have never had any fear of making that very clear. In 2016, [Nico] Rosberg and [Lewis] Hamilton crashed, and then they crTiashed again. So I fired them. I called my chief executive officer, Dieter Zetsche [at the Mercedes-Benz automotive company]. and said, \u201cListen, you need to sign something.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd he called me back and said, \u201cYou\u2019re making both drivers redundant?\u201d And I said, \u201cYeah, because otherwise they won\u2019t understand how important it is to the interest of the brand and the team above their own.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1844939a118cbe8f6ade736c78a2265f83d5ed1c2b327ab67d3f539714461a36\">  Kimi Antonelli F1 title battle \u201ca warzone\u201d for George Russell   Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Wolff added: \u201cIt was their personal rivalry that took over. And from a healthy competition, it went to a rivalry and it became animosity. And that\u2019s just not something I would allow in the organisation, and based on these factors, we sent them an email and said, \u201cAt the moment, you\u2019re not part of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wolff explained that he ultimately backed down because he could not decide who was ultimately at fault for the collision.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn Wednesday, we called them and said, \u201cCome in tomorrow,\u201d and I said, \u201cMy problem is that I don\u2019t know whose fault it was.\u201d Because it\u2019s nuanced. Like everything in life, it\u2019s never 100 percent wrong,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-97f737b37d87432b456b2a99be99d90e10bdc25d88ac3f6c50da8fd13864b268\">  Lewis Hamilton returns to F1 track with Ferrari for crucial Pirelli test   The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt may be 50-50. It might be 51-49. It\u2019d be 70-30. And I can\u2019t judge. And so what I said to them is that if it happens again, one has to go, and I may make a mistake. I may send the wrong one away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who need to repay their mortgages who work in the [Mercedes] factories, what do they think? That you two crash into each other because you don\u2019t like each other? And it directly affects the lives of two and a half thousand people. Who do you think you are? And that\u2019s an important understanding that you need to have with your drivers.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"body\">\n<p>Mercedes boss Toto Wolff has revealed his stunning plan to sack both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg at the height of their fierce Formula 1 rivalry in 2016.<\/p>\n<p>Hamilton and Rosberg engaged in exclusive intra-team battles for world championships during a spell of Mercedes domination between 2014 and 2016. After Hamilton prevailed to secure the 2014 and 2015 world titles, Rosberg fought back in 2016 to claim his one and only world championship before sensationally retiring from F1.<\/p>\n<p>The Silver Arrows pair had several on-track clashes during an intense battle for F1 title supremacy in 2016, the most notable coming at the Spanish Grand Prix, where Hamilton and Rosberg wiped each other out on the opening lap.<\/p>\n<p>Wolff was left so angry in the aftermath of the Barcelona incident he wanted to fire both drivers on the spot, he has now sensationally admitted in an interview with<em> The Athletic<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou\u2019re representing the Mercedes brand, and you just have to accept that it\u2019s not all about you,\u201d Wolff said. \u201cSo, fact: they are competitors. We accept the competition. We accept them racing against each other as long as they respect certain red lines. And that is very simple: don\u2019t crash into each other.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cAnd I have never had any fear of making that very clear. In 2016, [Nico] Rosberg and [Lewis] Hamilton crashed, and then they crTiashed again. So I fired them. I called my chief executive officer, Dieter Zetsche [at the Mercedes-Benz automotive company]. and said, \u201cListen, you need to sign something.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnd he called me back and said, \u201cYou\u2019re making both drivers redundant?\u201d And I said, \u201cYeah, because otherwise they won\u2019t understand how important it is to the interest of the brand and the team above their own.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-1844939a118cbe8f6ade736c78a2265f83d5ed1c2b327ab67d3f539714461a36\">  Kimi Antonelli F1 title battle \u201ca warzone\u201d for George Russell   Martin Brundle sends George Russell warning amid Mercedes F1 title fight <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>Wolff added: \u201cIt was their personal rivalry that took over. And from a healthy competition, it went to a rivalry and it became animosity. And that\u2019s just not something I would allow in the organisation, and based on these factors, we sent them an email and said, \u201cAt the moment, you\u2019re not part of the team.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Wolff explained that he ultimately backed down because he could not decide who was ultimately at fault for the collision.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn Wednesday, we called them and said, \u201cCome in tomorrow,\u201d and I said, \u201cMy problem is that I don\u2019t know whose fault it was.\u201d Because it\u2019s nuanced. Like everything in life, it\u2019s never 100 percent wrong,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-block\">\n<div class=\"mpu-title\"><span>Article continues below<\/span><span>ADVERTISEMENT<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block\">\n<div class=\"ins-related_content dsp-related_content_in_article_2\">\n<h2>Read More<\/h2>\n<div class=\"related-content-in-body js-view-dom-id-97f737b37d87432b456b2a99be99d90e10bdc25d88ac3f6c50da8fd13864b268\">  Lewis Hamilton returns to F1 track with Ferrari for crucial Pirelli test   The biggest winners and losers from F1\u2019s surprise five-week break <\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<p>\u201cIt may be 50-50. It might be 51-49. It\u2019d be 70-30. And I can\u2019t judge. And so what I said to them is that if it happens again, one has to go, and I may make a mistake. I may send the wrong one away.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cPeople who need to repay their mortgages who work in the [Mercedes] factories, what do they think? That you two crash into each other because you don\u2019t like each other? And it directly affects the lives of two and a half thousand people. Who do you think you are? And that\u2019s an important understanding that you need to have with your drivers.\u201d<\/p>\n<aside>\n<div class=\"block block-echobox\">\n<h2>Subscribe to our F1 Newsletter<\/h2>\n<div class=\"info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-info\" id=\"edit-info--2\">\n<p>Get the latest F1 news, exclusives, interviews and promotions from the paddock direct to your inbox<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"extra-info js-form-wrapper form-wrapper\" data-drupal-selector=\"edit-legal\" id=\"edit-legal--2\">\n<p>For more information see our Privacy Policy<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/aside>\n<\/div>\n<p>[analyse_source url=&#8221;http:\/\/crash.net\/f1\/news\/1092983\/1\/toto-wolff-reveals-he-fired-lewis-hamilton-and-nico-rosberg-dramatic-mercedes-f1&#8243;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[analyse_image type=&#8221;featured&#8221; src=&#8221;https:\/\/cdn.crash.net\/2026-04\/xpb_808773_hires.jpg?width=1600&amp;aspect_ratio=16:9&#8243;] Toto Wolff reveals he &#8220;fired&#8221; Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg before dramatic Mercedes F1 U-turn Toto Wolff has revealed he was prepared to fire both Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg in 2016. Lewis Larkam 13 Apr 2026 Share Rosberg and Hamilton had a fierce battle for the 2016 F1 title Add as [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[47,226],"class_list":["post-1881786","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-politics","tag-crash-net","tag-crawlmanager"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1881786","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1881786"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1881786\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1881786"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1881786"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/analyse.optim.biz\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1881786"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}