Lewis Hamilton shows true colours as friend turned foe Nico Rosberg opens up on Brit

Lewis Hamilton sends a box of gifts to Nico Rosberg’s children every Christmas in a touching gesture. Hamilton and Rosberg were childhood friends having raced together in junior competitions, but their relationship deteriorated during their time at Mercedes.

The Silver Arrows duo were direct rivals for the World Championship between 2013 to 2016. They fell out of their battle for the title, which ended with Rosberg retiring after his 2016 Championship success.

Hamilton has gone on to become a seven-time world champion. The 39-year-old has attempted to mend his relationship with Rosberg, who has frequently opened up on their relationship.

The German revealed that Hamilton sends gifts to his children, a classy move given that they appeared to fall out towards the end of their time in Formula One.

Speaking to German publication Suddeutsche Zeitung, Rosberg said: “Lewis and I have repaired our friendship. We see each other from time to time. Every Christmas my daughters receive a huge box full of gifts from him.”

Lewis Hamilton sends gifts to Nico Rosberg’s children in a sign that their relationship has mended (Image: Getty)

Rosberg first drove in F1 in 2006 and Hamilton debuted a year later. They joined forces at Mercedes in 2013 and it was then, Rosberg claims, that their friendship fell apart.

Neither driver was able to put aside their desire to win the World Championship.

“It [the friendship breakdown] happened immediately when we were fighting for the World Championship, not before,” Rosberg once told Eurosport. “But that’s always the case: 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.”

Nico Rosberg has backed Lewis Hamilton’s decision to join Ferrari in 2025 (Image: Getty)

Hamilton has continued to drive for Mercedes since Rosberg’s departure in 2016. However, the Briton will depart at the end of this season before joining Ferrari for the 2025 season.

Rosberg, who has ruled himself out of replacing Hamilton at Mercedes, has defended his friend’s decision to make the controversial switch. “It surprised me,” the 38-year-old said.

“But if you look at the big picture, there are two legendary teams that everyone wants to drive for—Ferrari and Mercedes. So I can understand that he is fulfilling a personal dream with this.”