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Friendship Day is usually about celebrating those warm, fuzzy bonds we share with people who’ve had our backs. But in Formula 1, being teammates isn’t about hugs and high-fives; it’s more like Game of Thrones on four wheels. And if there’s one thing F1 has taught us, it’s this: just because you share a garage doesn’t mean you share the love. So, in the spirit of twisted camaraderie, here are some of the most iconic F1 rivalries between teammates who definitely didn’t exchange friendship bands. Ayrton Senna vs Alain Prost: The Original Frenemies Team: McLaren Years: 1988–1989 (peak rivalry) Senna and Prost were like chalk and cheese. The former was the emotional genius with godlike car control, and the latter, the cerebral tactician who could outthink an entire paddock. When they were at McLaren together, sparks flew, and not the kind that light up friendship candles. In 1989, Prost accused Senna of “playing dirty” after multiple on-track clashes. A year later, Senna intentionally collided with Prost at Suzuka to win the championship. Lewis Hamilton vs Nico Rosberg: Karting Bros to Cold Wars Team: Mercedes Years: 2013–2016 These two grew up racing together in karting, even sharing hotel rooms and pizzas. But when they became Mercedes teammates, the bromance died a fiery death. From crashing into each other at Spa in 2014 to “accidental” shoves at press conferences, Hamilton and Rosberg’s rivalry hit the boiling point. Rosberg retired immediately after beating Hamilton in 2016; like a mic drop on a toxic friendship. And they don't even pretend to like each other now. James Hunt vs Niki Lauda: The Odd Couple Teams: McLaren vs Ferrari Year: 1976 This one’s weird because, despite being fierce rivals, Hunt and Lauda actually respected each other. Hunt was the flamboyant playboy; Lauda, the cold, precise Austrian. They butted heads on track, but off-track, they shared beers and banter. In 1976, after Lauda’s horrific Nürburgring crash, Hunt was among the first to check on his condition. Still, that didn’t stop him from grabbing the title that year by a single point. The two are proof that rivals can also be real friends. Sebastian Vettel vs Mark Webber: “Multi 21, Seb!” Team: Red Bull Year: 2009–2013 On paper, Vettel and Webber should’ve been a dream team. In reality, they were oil and water. Webber often felt like the “number two” driver, and Vettel didn’t help by… disobeying team orders. The infamous “Multi 21” incident in Malaysia in 2013 saw Vettel ignore instructions to stay behind Webber and steal the win. Webber was furious. Vettel smirked. The garage froze. Fernando Alonso vs Lewis Hamilton: Welcome to the Toxic Table Team: McLaren Year: 2007 A rookie Hamilton, a reigning double world champ Alonso. What could go wrong? Everything. Alonso was rattled by Hamilton’s speed, Hamilton by Alonso’s mind games. The team took sides. Both drivers sabotaged each other. And in the end, neither won the title, but Kimi Raikkonen did. McLaren imploded so badly that even now, 2007 remains the benchmark for dysfunctional team dynamics. Max Verstappen vs Lewis Hamilton: The Modern Day Powder Keg Teams: Red Bull vs Mercedes Year: 2021 Okay, not teammates, but we’re including them because their energy was teammates who hate each other without ever being on the same team. They collided in Silverstone, Monza, and nearly every other high-stakes GP. The 2021 season ended in one of the most controversial finishes ever. Was it dramatic? Yes. Was it friendly? Nope. So, What Have We Learned? In F1, teammates are your first rivals. They drive the same car, so beating them is the only true metric of dominance. And this Friendship Day, we salute these chaotic duos, for proving that even in the fastest sport on Earth, the real drama happens at 300 km/h… with a teammate breathing down your neck. Happy Frenemyship Day!

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