Nico Rosberg reveals 'painful' Mercedes fine for 2016 Hamilton crash

Nico Rosberg has revealed he and Lewis Hamilton were forced to split a €720,000 bill from Mercedes after their infamous, race-ending collision at the 2016 Spanish Grand Prix. The hefty fine was stipulated in their contracts, a clause designed to deter costly intra-team incidents.

Why it matters:

This revelation underscores the immense financial and competitive stakes involved in Formula 1's top-tier team rivalries. A single on-track clash between teammates can result in millions in damages and lost points, forcing teams to implement strict contractual measures to protect their investment. The 2016 Spain crash was a pivotal moment that intensified the Hamilton-Rosberg feud and reshaped the championship narrative.

The details:

• Rosberg confirmed on Sky Sports F1 that his contract contained a clause stating any crash between teammates would result in a 50-50 split of the costs.
• His personal share of the bill for the Barcelona incident was €360,000, implying a total damage cost of €720,000 for the team.
• The crash occurred on the opening lap when Rosberg, running in an incorrect engine mode that limited his power, moved to cover the inside line at Turn 4 as Hamilton attempted a pass.
• The collision, which followed other tense moments like the 2014 Spa and 2016 Austria incidents, immediately eliminated both Mercedes cars from the race.
• Team principal Toto Wolff later viewed the crash as a "pressure relief" after building tensions, and the stewards took no further action against either driver.

The big picture:

The 2016 Spanish GP crash remains one of the most iconic moments of the turbo-hybrid era, handing an unlikely debut victory to Red Bull's Max Verstappen. It highlighted the extreme pressures within a championship-contending team and the lengths to which management must go to maintain order. While the financial penalty was significant, the greater cost was in championship points and team harmony during a fiercely contested title fight that Rosberg ultimately won by a narrow margin.