F1 News
Rosberg and Button say Sainz and Norris can't be friends if they want titles
Former F1 world champions Nico Rosberg and Jenson Button have both said that the friendship between Lando Norris and Carlos Sainz won't be able to last if they want to challenge for race wins or titles.
Sainz and Norris have formed a great partnership both on and off the track, with the duo scoring regular points for McLaren and enjoying their time off with each other out of the car.
However, two men that know what it's like to fight for titles and fall out with rivals believe that it wouldn't survive the pressure of an F1 title battle.
Rosberg won the title in 2016 but it came at the cost of his friendship with Lewis Hamilton. The two had been friends since childhood but they fell out numerous times during their Mercedes days.
According to GrandPrix247.com, Rosberg said: “You can’t be friends. You can only be friends if there is a clear number one and two. If you have got two guys who are trying to beat each other, it is impossible to be friends.
“You are so ego-driven and within a team, the politics going on are so big. You are fighting for a world championship and there’s so much at stake that unfortunately, that becomes more important than friendship.
“They are racing for 10th place. If they were racing for a world championship, it would change rapidly, mark my words."
2009 champion Button echoed Rosberg's thoughts, saying: “For me, my closest teammate was Rubens [Barrichello]. We fell out now and again through 2009 season but most of the time we were pretty close. I regard him as a good friend. It does happen.
“It’s just not that often and I think it’s because the drivers are just under so much pressure to succeed that they struggle to be friends with their main competitor, their teammate.
“And if Lando starts trouncing Carlos, they’re not going to be friends… it changes definitely when one gets the upper hand.”
