F1 champions Nico Rosberg, Lewis Hamilton to Renew Rivalry in Extreme E … Sort of

Nico Rosberg spent 2007 through 2016 batting Lewis Hamilton on Formula 1 circuits all over the planet. The last four of those years, the two were teammates on the Mercedes F1 team.

In 2016, Rosberg beat Hamilton for the F1 championship and promptly walked away from the series a Formula 1 champion.

In 2021, the two will be back at it, albeit in different roles, as team owners in the new Extreme E electric off-road series. Rosberg earlier this week announced his team, Rosberg Xtreme Racing, will join Electric E in 2021.

Hamilton announced his own team, X44, in September.

Rosberg’s team is rooted in Team Rosberg, a German Touring Car Masters (DTM) team founded in 1994 by Rosberg’s father and 1982 F1 champion, Keke Rosberg. For Nico Rosberg, Extreme E is just the next step in his involvement and investments in sustainability start-ups and environmental concerns that include the all-electric racing series.

“We are thrilled to unveil Rosberg Xtreme Racing as the latest addition to Extreme E,” Rosberg said. “The series represents an amazing opportunity to not only drive awareness but also inspire action in the fight against climate change – the single biggest threat to our planet today. Since retiring from F1 I have dedicated my career to sustainable technologies so to be able to combine these endeavours with my passion for racing is incredibly fulfilling.

So Hamilton and Rosberg will be going head to head again. It’s going to renew the rivalry, right?

“I don’t look at it that way,” Hamilton said. “I think the most important thing is focusing on the raising awareness in the different continents we’ll be going to. That’s the most impressive thing about this sport and this championship. The actual competition on the track is no the most important part.

“It’s really about raising awareness, which is the reason I got involved. And pushing technology. They’re using new technology there that hopefully will spark a development race that manufacturers will hopefully get involved with and come in and push it even further. That’s my goal, to be a part of that.”

Extreme E is coming, and many of the top racing teams in the world are at least interested. Is this a gimmick or glimpse at the future of racing? Join in the conversation in the comments section below.

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