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Nico Rosberg


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World champion Nico Rosberg has announced he has retired from Formula 1 with immediate effect.

The 31-year-old German won his first world title on Sunday, beating Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton by finishing second in the final race in Abu Dhabi.

"I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right," Rosberg said in a Facebook post.

 


Rosberg won nine of this season's 21 grands prix, beating three-time champion Hamilton by five points.

"For 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my 'one thing' to become Formula 1 world champion," he added.

"Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. And now I've made it."

The son of Finland's 1982 world champion Keke, Rosberg made his F1 debut for Williams at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2006, finishing seventh.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the news took him "completely by surprise."

"We now have to consider options and we will start to look at it on Monday" he added.

 

graphic

Rosberg's wait for a maiden title was the second longest in F1 history

Analysis

BBC Sport Chief F1 writer Andrew Benson

Nico Rosberg's decision to announce his retirement from Formula 1 just five days after clinching his first world title is a major shock - but perhaps it should not be.

The German put everything into this season, as he explained in his statement on Friday. The pressure of those last few races was plain to see in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, in the way it peeled off him by degrees in the hours after the race.

While thinking about how hard winning that title was, doubtless his thoughts were also about what it would take to beat Lewis Hamilton to it again. He clearly felt that at the age of 31, with a young daughter, he was not prepared to make those sacrifices again.

All in all, it is a classy move from a classy man.

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He has a young daughter and knows better than just about everyone what it is like to be an F1 drivers child. Many driver have stated that when you start a family, the barriers start seeming to be a few metres closer. In retiring from F1 you at least guarantee your child isn't going to see your final moments broadcast live from multiple angles in Full HD.

He is young, wealthy, very intelligent and has escaped life in F1 healthy - it is still a very dangerous sport.

He is 31, still young by motor racing standards, but with a rule shake up for 2017, Hamilton as a team mate, and a new breed of youngsters coming through..... the only way is down.

He has went out with a touch of class. He was never my favourite driver but I have plenty of respect for him.

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2 hours ago, Wullies_bowly_legs said:

Hamilton might get half his engineering team back, that Mercedes transferred to Nico this season without explanation. 

Like Red Bull, Sauber, Williams and a few others do often. 

They did explain it, it is to keep the garage fresh and stop divide happening. No Team Hamilton/Team Rosberg... just Team Mercedes.

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Alonso would be interesting. I still think he's the most complete racer in F1. Would be contractual issues with his release and Hamilton wouldn't want someone with his ability and competitive edge as a team mate. Ricciardo would fit the template that I think they'd want.

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