Nico Rosberg says his new-found role as team boss of his Extreme E outfit RXR as given him a different appreciation for the work of his former Mercedes F1 boss Toto Wolff and made him realise that his past criticism of the Austrian was perhaps unwarranted.
Rosberg worked under Wolff’s guidance and stewardship at Mercedes from 2013 when the Austrian took over the team’s running from Ross Brawn until his retirement from the sport in 2016.
Although the pair enjoyed a good relationship overall, the rapport also suffered a few rocky moments, mainly due to the massive tensions that governed the relations between Rosberg and teammate Lewis Hamilton.
But Rosberg’s leadership responsibilities with RXR, while on a different scale to those carried by Wolff in F1, have provided the German with a different perspective on the role of team boss on the ground.
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“I like to be involved and support where I can. Of course, I have such vast experience, I always have to be careful that I don’t intervene too much. There’s a fine line,” said Rosberg, quoted by Autosport.
“But also, it’s a new challenge for me because I’ve never been on this opposite side of the road.
“Now I look back and when I used to criticise Toto, now I’m like, ‘Oh, s**t, OK , maybe I shouldn’t criticise him’.
“It’s actually quite difficult to be in that role. Also, in the way you interact with the drivers. It’s hard to understand what the path is to be most supportive.
“But at the same time, it’s very interesting.”
RXR’s Johan Kristoffersson who shares driving duties with Molly Taylor in Extreme E’s adventurous series says he enjoys the experience of working alongside Rosberg.
“I have to say that it’s nice. I like to have discussions with Nico, bringing up all the ideas,” said the three-time World Rallycross champion” he said.
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“He likes to be in the moment of competition as well. He’s used to it. I think he also likes the position he is in now and he wants to be involved.
“It’s always good to have someone to discuss different things with and so on.”
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