After at last securing the 2016 Formula One world championship, Nico Rosberg has announced his retirement from the sport – and no, this is not an early April Fool’s joke.
Just prior to the annual FIA Prize Giving Gala, which took place in Vienna, the 31-year-old German ‘called it a day,’ on his racing career.
“Since 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my ‘one thing’ to become Formula One World Champion. Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. And now I’ve made it. I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right. My strongest emotion right now is deep gratitude to everybody who supported me to make that dream happen.
“This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough. I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two years; they fuelled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before. And of course that had an impact on the ones I love, too – it was a whole family effort of sacrifice, putting everything behind our target. I cannot find enough words to thank my wife Vivian; she has been incredible. She understood that this year was the big one, our opportunity to do it, and created the space for me to get full recovery between every race, looking after our daughter each night, taking over when things got tough and putting our championship first.
“When I won the race in Suzuka, from the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became World Champion. On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time… and then the lights went out and I had the most intense 55 laps of my life. I took my decision on Monday evening. After reflecting for a day, the first people I told were Vivian and Georg (Nolte, from Nico’s management team), followed by Toto.
“The only thing that makes this decision in any way difficult for me is because I am putting my racing family into a tough situation. But Toto understood. He knew straight away that I was completely convinced and that reassured me. My proudest achievement in racing will always be to have won the world championship with this incredible team of people, the Silver Arrows.
“Now, I’m just here to enjoy the moment. There is time to savour the next weeks, to reflect on the season and to enjoy every experience that comes my way. After that, I will turn the next corner in my life and see what it has in store for me…”
It took eleven seasons in Formula One for Rosberg to realise his childhood dream, having clinched the 2016 title by a mere five points over his childhood friend and perennial rival in Lewis Hamilton.
Having toiled the early part of his career at the struggling Williams F1 Team until 2010, taking on Australia’s Mark Webber in that time, the German displayed a character of resilience until the very end of his career.
2010 saw Rosberg chosen, along with a certain seven-time world champion coming out of retirement named ‘Schumacher’, to spearhead the newly formed Mercedes AMG works team, assimilated from the reigning world champions in Brawn GP.
The formative years saw the young German eagerly wait for any success until 2012, when he secured his maiden grand prix victory at the Chinese round of the season, from pole position.
From there, it’d be a further year before he’d stand on the top step of the podium again, having been triumphant on the streets of Monaco and further on at the prestigious British Grand Prix.
It wasn’t until 2014 when Rosberg would at last see himself in contention for the world championship.
The Silver Arrows’ forward thinking with the change in regulation regarding engine formula, put both Rosberg and Hamilton into their own bubble to contest the ultimate glory in the sport for the next three years.
Rosberg narrowly conceded the title in 2014 at the season ending Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, due to a catastrophic reliability issue.
While the artificial double points scheme of that initial year of hybrid ‘power-unit’ era (as engines have become to be known now), had accentuated Hamilton’s ultimate victory in that race for the crown, Rosberg’s perseverance in not giving up until the chequered flag dropped was something that won a few people over.
He was roundly trounced in 2015 by the reigning world champion in Hamilton, almost resulting in him being confined into that dreaded ‘number two’ driver shell – however the German returned in 2016 with a vengeance.
Rosberg laid down the gauntlet with four consecutive race wins from the season opening Australian Grand Prix, to have led the championship for 16 out of 21 races.
Strong criticism has befallen the German for the fact his teammate has succumbed to reliability problems throughout 2016, but people forget that it is consistency and being atop the points tally at the end of the year that wins championships.
Just ask Nico’s father Keke, who won his sole Formula One crown in 1982 with only one win to his name during that campaign.
Consistency and resilience has allowed Rosberg to convert his 23 grand prix victories into a world championship.
The unwanted statistic of ‘most grand prix wins without a championship’ is once again returned to the great Sir Stirling Moss, who claimed 16 wins during his Formula One career, which included a stint at the previous works Mercedes-Benz team in 1955.
As unfortunate as it is to lose the new world champion off the grid for 2017, it must be celebrated the eleven year career that Rosberg has had at the pinnacle of motorsport.
While he may not have been the greatest driver on the current grid as far as pace is concerned, it’ll be difficult to come by a fellow who simply refuses to give up.
Thus maybe one world title was all Nico needed to define his career, which has been too long overshadowed by the achievements of his teammate Lewis Hamilton.
steve
Guest
I'm wondering if Hamilton has a veto clause in his deal like Vettel does regarding teammates.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
It seems it could be anyone's gig at this point! The question would Daimler want to break the bank and some contracts to get certain drivers. Even getting a Bottas or Hulkenberg as you suggest will be pricey. But its a unique situation this and I'm sure we'll all enjoy the next few weeks as a replacement is sourced.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Wehrlein is probably the most likeliest to slot in, but it seems to be open house at the moment and according to Niki Lauda - 'half the grid' have already contacted them.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
If that were the case, then it would have been one of those 'when pigs fly' situations that McLaren would have wrote that sort of clause into.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Yeah, he doesn't have that ego that drives other sportspeople. To him it was just about coming into racing to achieve his dream and now that he has done that, there's not much else he thinks he can do. Fans or not, everyone should respect his decision. F1 seems so desperate right now for Valentino Rossi or Peter Brock type characters, that they've resorted to putting Hamilton on that pedestal and have overlooked the fact that even a down-to-earth character can provide a healthy and feelgood narrative. The time will come when naturally those sort of icons appear, but at the same time we ought to appreciate the Nico Rosbergs who come in to slay the giants.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
All this spieling in the media appears to be just covering up the fact that Rosberg has defeated him on track and mentally too, with emphasis on the latter. Desperate times call for desperate measures and even someone as highly hailed as Hamilton can be brought to their haunches.
Simoc
Guest
I'm hoping Wherlien gets the gig. Apparently he is very good at upsetting people.
steve
Guest
I have been reading that Alonso has a Mercedes clause in his contract with McLaren.
steve
Guest
Totally disagree. Helmut Marko isn't going to let Red Bull's poster boy get away. No way that will happen.
anon
Guest
I don't blame Rosberg. I think he had enough. I think Brundle even mentioned on the weekend that both Hamilton and Rosberg are always so downbeat despite having the greatest car in the history of the sport. Reasons: The atmosphere at Mercedes for the last three seasons has been toxic and poisonous. He's never going to drive a better car than he's had the last three years. He's won more races and scored more poles than he ever dreamed. He's reached his goal of a championship. He's got enough money to live comfortably. Next year the cars are will be 3-6 seconds per lap quicker which will be significantly more dangerous. The cars are less enjoyable to drive since coming into the sport in 2006. It's a 21 race season from March to November plus preseason testing and training all year. And most importantly he has a wife and child he wants to spend time with. Why risk it all in a blood feud with Hamilton when you achieved everything you wanted. I'm sure what happened to his former teammate Schumacher affected him on some level. Bianchi too. If he was running scared from Hamilton he would have issued an ultimatum to Mercedes saying I can't work with Hamilton any more. He saves face, he might not get a top drive in 2017, but he could take the year off and slot into someone like Raikkonen's or Alonso's seat for 2018. Maybe even a straight swap with Alonso now. That's something Hamilton would do. Actually it's something he did do after Spain this year. Who knows. Maybe he even comes back in 2018, but I don't think so. Rosberg seems to be much more curious about the world than the typical sportsperson. Most of them are basically unsophisticated simpletons that can do one thing well in life. I like what Rosberg did. I thought he was always a genuinely good person, and this shows a healthy perspective. He matched it with the best in the world without ever resorting to the pathetic mental games and cheap tricks Hamilton desperately resorted to last Sunday. As big a fan as I am of Schuamcher, he won 7 titles and had 91 victories yet it still wasn't enough. He had to come back at 40 years old to try to win an 8th title because 7 just isn't enough you know.
anon
Guest
Hamilton's too stupid to realise what it means when he implies Rosberg is average. It means he himself is average. Rosberg effectively beat Hamilton 2 out of their 4 years together. People talk about him never beating Hamilton, but Rosberg beat Hamilton in 2013 quite convincingly despite Hamilton scoring slightly more points. Rosberg had THREE retirements through mechanical failure in 2013, Hamilton had none. In races where both drivers finished, Rosberg beat Hamilton 8-7, but in reality it was 9-6 because in the second race of the year in Malaysia, Ross Brawn ordered Rosberg to not pass Hamilton in the closing laps despite Rosberg being significantly quicker than Hamilton. Rosberg knew he was number 2 at Mercedes from that point on.
dan ced
Guest
Mark Webber could make a shock return :P I'm thinking either Hulkenberg goes to Merc, and Gasly to Renault (French driver, I think) Or Perez goes to Merc, and Guitierez to Force India. Otherwise they will just go with Wherlien.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The photoshops of Toto Wolff's phone showing countless missed calls from a certain Spaniard and him sitting outside Brackley are priceless. It's open season really as to who gets the gig next year. Do these big names such as Alonso or Vettel have strict contracts? Would Mercedes-Benz break the bank to go after another superstar to put next to Hamilton? Button perhaps would be annoyed to still be contracted to McLaren in his 'retirement', otherwise how nice would it be for him to return to his 2009 title winning home for one final bout.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
A rivalry which could only be matched by a Hamilton vs. Alonso encore ten years on from that spiteful season! Kimi for the title!
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
It sadly appears that Lewis fans will only use Nico's retirement to fuel their perverse opinion that he was afraid of being revealed as a one-hit wonder, and he'll consequently never receive the universal acclaim he deserves.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Nothing is news to that man. Unless Lewis sincerely means that Nico felt the weight release of finally beating him after eighteen years being that great, I find his sentiment extremely pithy - as though taking him that long means he was a poor driver or something to that effect.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
The only other driver next to Jenson Button who has been with the same outfit since 2010! And now both have vacated their seats and the grid entirely going into 2017. Bwoah, that would be something if Mercedes were to struggle next year. But one thing that everyone'll surely miss the rivalry that has kept us on edge for the last three years.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
As Mark said on another piece, never change Anon - we love the enthusiasm. But as far as the 'garbage' is concerned, one does wish that it can be switched off. In a certain part of the world, instead of celebrating and analysing how Nico won the title, they are lamenting the loss of one. That's where these criticisms I mention come from. It's unfair that there are people unwilling to give credit where it is due. You point out too in your final paragraph about the days where Hamilton didn't maximise his opportunities. China is a great example and even Australia where he couldn't pass a Toro Rosso with a 2015-spec Ferrari donkey. The pit-wall had to bail him out with strategy and it was Ferrari's mess-up with the red flag which brought him back into play.
Jawad Yaqub
Roar Guru
Hah, that would kill Lewis' desire now to have a teammate 'with equal status'. He also claims now that it is no surprise to hear of Nico's retirement. "This is the first time he has won in 18 years, hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop," is what Hamilton had to say of it. I doubt that is fully true, but oh well.
Bayden Westerweller
Roar Guru
Nico did it his way, kudos. Inevitably the Hamilton worshippers will claim that he was scared of being humiliated and his title rendered an aberration etc, yet the German couldn't have scripted a better way to ride into the sunset. The ultimate vindication would be if Mercedes struggles under the new regulations, then he'd appear to be a mastermind! He's forever a World Champion, he's seen his priorities and his family will be enriched for his decision. Significantly, Mercedes has now lost its second foundation driver, it really will feel like a different outfit with whoever replaces him, though that's a discussion for another day, right now Nico has earned his time in the sun, and hopefully the magnitude of his title itself isn't lost to the notion that he's now a retired driver and the aforementioned speculations that his critics will invariably attach.