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Nico Rosberg Blasts Nico Hulkenberg: ‘Social Intelligence Cost Him a Top F1 Career

Simon Monroy by Simon Monroy
January 3, 2025
in Motorsports
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0
Nico Rosberg Lauds Hamilton’s Legacy as Mercedes Era Ends: “He Carried the Team” – For 12-long-years in F1

Nov 2, 2019; Austin, TX, USA; Former driver Nico Rosberg walks though the crowd during qualifying for the United States Grand Prix at Circuit of the Americas. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Formula 1 is a world where talent alone rarely guarantees success, and 2016 World Champion Nico Rosberg has not held back in criticizing his fellow German driver Nico Hulkenberg, claiming a lack of “social intelligence” and critical connections doomed Hulkenberg’s F1 career.


“Missed Opportunities and Burned Bridges”

Rosberg, speaking candidly about Hulkenberg’s career trajectory, stated that while the talent was undeniable, the Haas driver never demonstrated the level of excellence required to secure a seat with a top-tier team.

“If you show that you are one of the best, you will get to the lucky car,” Rosberg remarked. “And he never really showed it.”

However, it wasn’t just on-track performance that Rosberg criticized. The 2016 champion highlighted Hulkenberg’s failure to navigate the intricate politics of Formula 1. According to Rosberg, Hulkenberg’s inability to cultivate relationships with team bosses and avoid early career conflicts proved detrimental.

“He was not the best socially—social intelligence, working on the team bosses to get yourself in the right position,” Rosberg said. “He burned some bridges there, early in his career—that was one thing that he could have done better.”


“The Podium That Never Came”

Hulkenberg’s record-breaking 227 F1 starts without a podium is an infamous statistic in motorsport. Once hailed as a generational talent after dominating Formula 3 and Formula 2, Hulkenberg’s failure to translate that success into Formula 1 glory has baffled even his harshest critics.

“It’s unbelievable that Nico Hulkenberg has never been on the podium,” Rosberg commented. “He was the biggest talent coming up… and showed glimpses of absolute genius in Formula 1. But, somehow, [he] never lived up to that expectation.”


A Grim Future with Audi?

As Hulkenberg prepares to join Audi’s Sauber F1 team ahead of their full entry into Formula 1 in 2026, the road ahead looks challenging. The team’s current struggles in the midfield and questions about their long-term competitiveness cast doubt on Hulkenberg’s ability to secure meaningful success before his career concludes.

While Hulkenberg remains a respected figure on the grid, Rosberg’s comments underscore a harsh truth: F1 is as much about relationships and timing as it is about talent. Without a major turnaround, the 37-year-old could face more seasons of unfulfilled potential, adding to an already disappointing legacy.

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