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Seven-time F1 world champion Lewis Hamilton uses Christmas as an opportunity to spread festive cheer to the family of a former F1 star, despite their personal differences
Lewis Hamilton sends Nico Rosberg’s children ‘a box of gifts’ every Christmas, despite the two former Mercedes team-mates sharing a personal rift that has eliminated their friendship away from the racetrack.
Hamilton and Rosberg endured an intense rivalry throughout their Formula One careers that stretched their relationship to breaking point, even though they had been close mates during their successful karting days. The friendship hasn’t been restored since the German’s surprising retirement from the sport in 2016.
Despite their personal relationship falling apart, Hamilton still delivers gifts to his former teammate and championship rival’s children at Christmas. Both of Rosberg’s daughters are admirers of the seven-time world champion, who experienced a challenging debut season with Ferrari in 2025, failing to score a podium throughout the gruelling 24-race calendar.
“The other weak point is probably a painful topic for you,” Rosberg was questioned on the NDR Talkshow in Germany. “Both your daughters are Lewis Hamilton fans?” The ex-Mercedes driver responded: “That’s true too. That’s even more than a weak point. That’s a big problem.”
His wife, Vivian, proceeded to verify that the Briton supplies gifts for her daughters every year. “Yes, he always gives them Barbies for Christmas,” she confirmed.
Her husband continued: “No, that’s great. That’s nice of him. We kind of had an enmity. Now both children have a huge box of presents from him on their doorstep every Christmas. It’s a nice approach.”
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Despite being a seven-time world champion, Hamilton’s festive spirit hasn’t earned him an invitation into the Rosberg home. “He has to stay outside the door,” quipped the 2016 world champion, “But he’s welcome to leave the presents.”
The relationship between Hamilton and Rosberg has always intrigued F1 enthusiasts. The German racing driver-turned-entrepreneur has been openly supportive of his former teammate’s skills in recent seasons, but their one-on-one interviews on Sky Sports F1 have seemed uncomfortable. At the 2025 season finale in Abu Dhabi, Rosberg even pointed fingers at Hamilton when asked about the Brit’s difficult debut campaign with Ferrari.
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“It happened immediately when we were fighting for the World Championship, not before,” the 40-year-old previously revealed to 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.”
