Mercedes Considered Suspending Hamilton and Rosberg After 2016 Spanish GP Crash, Rosberg Reveals

Nico Rosberg has revealed that Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff held internal discussions with then-Mercedes-Benz chief Dieter Zetsche about suspending both Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton for one race after their dramatic crash at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. The suspension never materialized, but Wolff instead imposed a financial penalty that would later cost Rosberg $360,000.

Why it matters:

The revelation underscores how close Mercedes came to taking unprecedented disciplinary action against its star drivers. The crash at Barcelona was the most destructive incident of their intense rivalry, handing victory to Red Bull and forcing the team to reconsider how it managed the battle between its two champions.

The Details:

• The Crash: On the opening lap at Circuit de Barcelona-Catalunya, Hamilton and Rosberg fought aggressively through Turns 1-3 before colliding on the short straight between Turns 3 and 4, eliminating both cars. The incident opened the door for Max Verstappen to win his first F1 race at age 18.
• Wolff's Reaction: Rosberg recounted on the High Performance podcast that Wolff stormed into the debrief, threw and destroyed his headset, and shouted, "What the hell are you guys doing out there?" The team boss was furious because they had handed the win to Red Bull—the team's fiercest rival.
• Internal Discussion: Asked if Wolff considered firing the drivers, Rosberg said: "It never came to being fired. No, but I know he actually had internal discussions with the big boss, Dieter Zetsche, about taking a step... it was probably a suspension... for a race, yeah, something like that."
• Financial Deterrent: Instead of a suspension, Wolff presented both drivers with a contract stating each would be liable for 50% of crash damage, regardless of fault. For one of Rosberg's incidents later in the season, that meant a $360,000 fine. "That definitely calmed us down," Rosberg recalled. "That was expensive."

Between the lines:

Mercedes' consideration of a one-race ban shows how the team's leadership was willing to go beyond standard team orders to rein in their drivers. The financial penalty—effectively a six-figure fine for a single crash—proved a more immediate deterrent. The incident also marked a turning point in the rivalry: Rosberg went on to win the 2016 title by five points, then retired, leaving Hamilton to dominate the following years. The memory of that suspension threat, however, remains a stark reminder of how close the team came to taking a drastic step.