“Right now, I am losing the World Championship. So I don’t really bother If I win or lose this race!” At times, such statements really turn the sentiment against a driver. It is hard competitiveness that Lewis Hamilton aimed to show during the 2016 Abu Dhabi finale. Still, there were several people who turned sour on the then 3-time champion. Lewis has often witnessed such polarizing and divisive opinions from fans. Nonetheless, the way the Mercedes legend has been the flag bearer of F1 is probably unparalleled.

Back in 2016, even Red Bull boss Christian Horner praised Hamilton, while explaining the divisive fan perception. According to a feature by Time.com, Horner cited how Lewis is a huge ambassador of F1. Despite Christian being a huge fanboy of prodigy Max Verstappen, he reluctantly bowed down to Hamilton’s fame, especially in the US.

Horner said, “He’s [Lewis Hamilton] an ambassador for Formula One. He takes it to places where you wouldn’t normally see it, particularly in the U.S.”. Although Christian also referred to an analogy that pointed to the polarizing fandom of Lewis Hamilton. He stated, “Lewis is Marmite. People either love him or hate him.”

While this had been the trend since Lewis’s debut, the 2016 finale made it more pronounced. It was also the season when Max Verstappen was making headlines for Red Bull. So, for Horner to praise Hamilton’s fame was noteworthy.

Years Later, Nico Rosberg Opens Up on the Genesis of the Infamous ‘Silver War’ With Former Pal Lewis Hamilton

Even though Lewis has been saying things to downplay these dark moments of his F1 career, it always leaves a bad taste in the mouth to relive it. Perhaps, Nico Rosberg’s retirement helped Hamilton to hit that prime and convincingly establish his supremacy in F1.

What would have happened to Lewis Hamilton, if Nico Rosberg did not retire?

Since 2016, Lewis Hamilton has risen like a phoenix force. Winning 4 consecutive championships and dominating the field, the Briton matched up with the greats of F1. It also caused his popularity to grow immensely and probably covered up the dark moments from Yas Marina 2016.

But could he have dominated in the same way, if Nico Rosberg stayed after 2016? It is a perplexing question that raises a lot of doubts in anyone’s mind. Of course, there would have been the rivalry with his old pal that continued into 2017 and beyond.

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Valtteri Bottas never really challenged Hamilton as Rosberg. So, Lewis’s 2017 and 2018 title battles would have spiced up even more. Nico and Lewis could have again stomped on each other’s toes. Meanwhile, Sebastian Vettel could have benefitted in this scenario and the tables would have turned in the championship battle.

Even though there are too many variables to predict, it is unlikely that the rising intensity of Nico and Lewis’s rivalry would not have continued. There could have been even team switches if Hamilton was fed up with the constant tension ay Brackley. Still, considering the 7-time champion’s skills, he could have managed to win more championships somehow.

So, Hamilton not getting fame is as unlikely a scenario in either case. Rosberg’s retirement does not matter, considering the appeal of Lewis in worldwide markets. Besides, on the track, the man from Stevenage never relented in 16 years to date to concede a loss easily.

WATCH THIS STORY: Ugliest Moments in Hamilton-Rosberg Rivalry

Despite all the controversy, Lewis Hamilton has garnered fame and carried it well. The Mercedes man’s personality as a driver and as a person makes him likable as well as ruthless whenever needed. A personality that may have not depended much on his arch-rival staying or leaving the sport.