Nico Rosberg has admitted he shied away from confronting Michael Schumacher over the psychological warfare the seven-time world champion inflicted on him during their three years as teammates at Mercedes. Speaking on the High Performance podcast, Rosberg detailed the mind games Schumacher employed, including locking the bathroom door before a race, forcing Rosberg to urinate in a bucket in the garage.
Rosberg Reflects on Schumacher's Tactics
Rosberg, who was still chasing his first grand prix victory when he joined Mercedes in 2010, said Schumacher's behaviour extended to never mentioning his name in engineering meetings. 'In three years of being teammates, he did not mention my name once. I did not exist,' Rosberg recalled. 'Mentioning my name would have shown respect, like mentioning the little guy.'
Would He Confront Him Now?
When asked if he would challenge Schumacher today, Rosberg said: 'Today, yes [I would], but at the time, I was too young. Now, I would stand right in front of him, look him in the eye and say, 'Michael, stop these rubbish games. It's not right to cause me stress before I get in the car.'' He added that showing vulnerability is a superpower.
Schumacher's iconic status made it difficult for teammates to stand up to him. Rosberg noted that engineers would stop working when Schumacher entered the room, awestruck by his presence. After Schumacher retired in 2012, Rosberg was paired with Lewis Hamilton, leading to intense title battles that culminated in Rosberg's 2016 championship and immediate retirement due to the mental toll.
