Formula 1

Five teammates at loggerheads

By Liam Apicella, Features Editor | 25 August 2014

As Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg's fallout continues, Sports Mole picks out five other teammates that have had their differences.

Already reportedly fractious, the relationship between Mercedes drivers Lewis Hamilton and Nico Rosberg hit new lows in Belgium yesterday afternoon.

In just the second lap of the Spa circuit, Rosberg collided with his teammate as he attempted an overtaking manoeuvre, which ultimately ended the Brit's race.

The two drivers are said to no longer be on speaking terms, with meetings expected to take place over the coming days in an attempt to patch up the differences. Here, Sports Mole has picked out five other teammates that have been known to not see eye to eye.

1. Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer

While many scraps between footballers are confined to the training ground, Newcastle United's Dyer and Bowyer decided to have it out in front of 50,000 supporters at St James' Park in 2005. Losing 3-0 to Aston Villa, the pair exchanged blows, before being pulled apart by Gareth Barry. Unsurprisingly, both were sent off and then fined by the club.

2. Josh Lewsey and Danny Cipriani

A cocksure Cipriani certainly rubbed England's Lewsey up the wrong way during a London Wasps training session in 2008. Reports at the time suggested that a young Cipriani had told his elder teammate to watch his mouth, but it should have been his mouth that he was concerned about. Lewsey punched Cipriani, who received a split lip and badly bruised nose for his troubles.

3. Graeme Le Saux and David Batty

The 1995-96 Champions League campaign was a nightmare for Blackburn Rovers. They won just one game, with the lowest point coming during the 3-0 loss to Spartak Moscow in Russia. Having collided with each other, matters soon turned physical between Le Saux and Batty, with the latter believed to have suffered a broken hand during the altercation.

4. Steve Smith and Ken Lucas

There are not many other sports that involve as much physical contact in training as American Football, which can sometimes lead to tempers getting the better of players. One of the most famous fights between teammates happened in 2008 as Smith and Lucas, of the Carolina Panthers, traded blows. Lucas suffered a broken nose and Smith was suspended for two weeks, but the pair did eventually bury the hatchet.

5. John Hartson and Eyal Berkovic

Training ground scuffles are a common occurrence, but West Ham United's Hartson took it to a new level in 1997. Berkovic was unhappy with a challenge put on him by the Welshman, who was punched in the leg by the Israeli. Hartson's response? Well, that was to kick his teammate in the face.