He clearly felt that at the age of 31, with a young daughter, he was not prepared to make those sacrifices again.Īll in all, it is a classy move from a classy man. 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. 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. The German put everything into this season, as he explained in his statement on Friday. 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. Nico Rosberg on his 'emotional rollercoaster' in 2016 Analysis Rosberg raced in 206 grands prix, winning 23 and finishing on the podium 57 times. 'We now have to consider options and we will start to look at it on Monday.' 'The clarity of his judgement meant I accepted his decision straight away when he told me. 'This is a brave decision by Nico and a testament to the strength of his character,' he added. Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff said the news took him 'completely by surprise'. 'It is definitely going to be strange and it will be sad to not have him in the team next year.' Hamilton, who had beaten Rosberg to the title in the previous two seasons, said: 'He has a family he wants to focus on, and F1 takes so much from you.

Done.' Rosberg's wait for a maiden title was the second longest in F1 history The son of Finnish 1982 world champion Keke, Rosberg made his F1 debut for Williams at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2006, finishing seventh.Īnd when asked if there was any chance of a return, Rosberg added: 'No definitely not. 'Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. 'For 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my 'one thing', to become Formula 1 world champion,' he added. Hamilton 'doesn't care' who replaces Rosberg.Rosberg won nine of this season's 21 grands prix, beating three-time champion Hamilton by five points. 'I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right,' Rosberg said.

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