Nico Rosberg retires from F1

[Craikeybaby]

Fair play to him, there are too many drivers clinging on in F1, it will be good to have 3 new drivers on the grid for 2017.

[ewolg]

A bit shocked but now very interested to see who the hell Mercedes is going to replace him with.

[Smollet]

greygoose said:

Achieved what he wanted to and can now enjoy his time with his family.

Yup. A very simple and honest decision

[anonymous-user]

BubblesNW said:

Just announced, will be interesting to hear why he has quit.

Clearly three years with Hamilton's attitude was enough.

[bakerstreet]

rsbmw said:

love to see Alonso get the call, if we end up with 3 relatively even teams next season there could be a genuine 6 way title battle

Why? He would demand a huge salary. You could get some up and coming talent for considerably less the use the money saved to go elsewhere.

I personally SQuare jaw should retire and buy some more mountain bike race teams

[boobles]

I kinda think that Bernie might have already known this about rosberg because not sure how many noticed but just after rosberb picked Bernie up after the race, he then turned to speak to another chap but told him that he couldn't say anything in front of the camera!!!! I instantly thought that he knew something nobody else did.... Could be completely wrong of course

[anonymous-user]

ewolg said:

A bit shocked but now very interested to see who the hell Mercedes is going to replace him with.

Lewis and Rosberg clearly disliked each other.

Perhaps in 2017 Lewis will wish him back depending on who joins.

[Amateurish]

JB and LH back together again?

[37chevy]

Werhlien to replace rosberg, clear number 1/2 driver status going into a big regulation change, merc will need to play the team game to keep red bull at bay next year me thinks

[spunkytherabbit]

boobles said:

I kinda think that Bernie might have already known this about rosberg because not sure how many noticed but just after rosberb picked Bernie up after the race, he then turned to speak to another chap but told him that he couldn't say anything in front of the camera!!!! I instantly thought that he knew something nobody else did.... Could be completely wrong of course

I think you're spot on. My missus and I both looked at one another and asked 'what was all that about?'.

[red_slr]

I cant remember which thread I said it in but I said the line up makes no sense with Nico and Lewis. They are just making it harder for themselves and with Red Bull no doubt pushing super hard for 2017 I did wonder which one of them might go. The bit that is a shock is total retirement but tbh I can understand why.

[JNW1]

Didn't see that coming! I thought with a weight having been lifted by winning the world championship he would have been relishing the new season and I certainly expected him to see out his current contract with Mercedes; I suppose you have to respect his decision but personally I think it would have been more becoming of a first-time champion to come back and defend his title......

[316Mining]

Well.

Didn't expect that.

Have a good retirement Nico.

[ucb]

garyhun said:

Sheetmaself said:

What an absolute loser, i was never one of those who complained that he only won due to Lewis' issues and am not a massive Lewis fan. But this just shows what Nico thinks of his chances of repeating the win next year.

What a weak way to leave.

You are so wrong. It's a brave decision to quit while in the ascendancy - I'm a natural Lewis fan but believe wining the WDC would have released Nico on to greater things. Although that's all moot now.

What a strong way to leave.

Agreed, the pressure (particularly marketing from Mercedes in Germany) for him to continue must be massive. Good for him. I'm liking rosberg more and more

[Phil Dicky]

Amateurish said:

JB and LH back together again?

Id love that,

[RichB]

ELUSIVEJIM said:

Clearly he wants to be with his family rather than putting himself at risk of serious injury.
Total respect to the man as it would have clearly been a hard decision.
Well done Champion. Good luck in your future.

I think that's the case. He's raced against Schumacher and put a lot of energy into competing with Hamilton. He's achieved what he wanted and may have just decided that's it. Spend time with his family and not push one's luck (and by luck I mean having a career in F1 with no physical injury).

It will be interesting to see how it plays out for Mercedes now.

[johnxjsc1985]

Mercedes lose their World Champion and their other 3 time Champion thinks he has been knobbled this season.
All Is not good ?.
Not my favourite driver by a long way but good on him for doing things on his terms he is a young man with a family spending most of his time away from home and I expect he is worth a fair bit too.

[MarkRSi]

WestyCarl said:

El stovey said:

That's so cool.

Become champion, then say right bugger you all, I'm off.

Yup, never really warmed to him as a driver but cool decision.

Job done, I'm off.

Never was a fan of Rosberg but that was a simply awesome move

[JohnoVR6]

Dejay1788 said:

Surely it has to be Wehrlein who replaces him, he's been groomed for it now for the past two years.

Did think it odd that he'd been overlooked for the FI seat, given the way he was pushed early doors by Merc. Makes sense now, to an extent, I guess...

[Vocal Minority]

NJK44 said:

Fantastic news. What a day to be alive.

Nico confirming his status as a wet flannel.

Couldn't be magnanimous? Just for five minutes knowing he's going, and you have your way? Even claiming your life is improved? not wholly sure I expected any different, but still....

I wish him luck. He can retire to his massive house, with his nice family, trophies, millions of euro's and a st load more legacy than any of us will ever leave the sport (unless we try our hardest to live vicariously through Lewis Hamilton).

Not bad for a wet flannel.

As some one said earlier - I should imagine Alonso's agent is on the phone currently!!

However, someone else said that they though Button would be pissed off.

Looking at his body language for the second half of the season and his interviews at the Abu Dhabi GP - I should imagine he is striding happily off into the sunset with a finger raised above each shoulder (again to his big house and millions of.....pounds? (is he still Guernsey?))