Nico Rosberg retires from F1

[Shelsleyf2]

BrabusMog said:

I think that's a bit of a harsh post on PH's. Yes, he's got his win, but many people would want to consolidate that. He can dress it up whatever way he wants, but he's got more seasons in him at the top level and he's decided to duck out. Also, his "retirement" from driving in one of the most exciting cars on the planet is not the same as saying, "that's enough, I'm not sitting through another budget meeting/supplier presentation/restructure committee concern workshop," etc, etc. These guys have a hobby for a living, he knows deep down he's not good enough to win again.

He does not have to be one of the many, only he knows what he had to do this year to give it his all, family life, selfishness, it his his decision. Just because you do not agree does not make it wrong.
I would argue that the current F1 is probably very boring for these drivers, driving round in a car well within it's performance envelope to save and manage tyres is not every racers idea of exploring the limits. On the odd occasion drivers comment on the current cars there is a common theme, that they are not particularly enjoyable to drive, or indeed physically demanding in comparison to the cars of F1 past, heavey slow and fragile tyres. True racing was perhaps the Schumi era, minimal fuel, bolt on another set of super fast tyres and do another 17 qualifying laps. As an aside this is also why comparing drivers from different eras is flawed, Prost might have been mighty in todays current cars, Schumi might have been less so, different skill sets, and different eras place different emphasis.

[TorqueDirty]

Thread has become TL/DR for a Saturday morning so this may have been posted 20 times already.

Seems the conspiracy theorists are warming up. Saw this somewhere else earlier:

"NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE!
Do you remember a couple of weeks ago, the phone call Toto Wolf made to Jos Verstappen? Well I believe Toto informed Jos Verstappen about the upcoming announcement from Nico. Toto wanted to find out if MAX had a escape clause in his contract with Red Bull and if SO.....Toto will sign MAX into the Silver Arrows, under the condition that MAX would stay away from interfering with Nico concerning the WDC. Looking back, it might well be that Christian Horner was also informed about Nico's retirement. This would explain the bad strategy calls Red Bull made, which was to ensure that Nico would become the next WDC. Hmmm What a prospect for 2017 MAX vs Louis can't wait. "

All tosh no doubt but quite amusing to consider.

[Vaud]

Nigel_O said:

Didn't Nico hit the headlines earlier this year when he signed a new two(?) year contract?

Seems it must have been nicely worded to allow him to walk without huge penalties.

I think you misunderstand how contracts are used.

Penalties? Highly unlikely. The moment you see your star has checked out, it's better business sense not to penalise. There may be restrictions on him driving elsewhere, but penalty? Highly unlikely, as you can't force someone to race.

[TheLordJohn]

TorqueDirty said:

Thread has become TL/DR for a Saturday morning so this may have been posted 20 times already.

Seems the conspiracy theorists are warming up. Saw this somewhere else earlier:

"NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE!
Do you remember a couple of weeks ago, the phone call Toto Wolf made to Jos Verstappen? Well I believe Toto informed Jos Verstappen about the upcoming announcement from Nico. Toto wanted to find out if MAX had a escape clause in his contract with Red Bull and if SO.....Toto will sign MAX into the Silver Arrows, under the condition that MAX would stay away from interfering with Nico concerning the WDC. Looking back, it might well be that Christian Horner was also informed about Nico's retirement. This would explain the bad strategy calls Red Bull made, which was to ensure that Nico would become the next WDC. Hmmm What a prospect for 2017 MAX vs Louis can't wait. "

All tosh no doubt but quite amusing to consider.

Yep, well worth quoting.
But you made a mistake. YOU haven't put CAPITALS to EMPHASISE what you are saying!!

[NickM450]

AW111 said:

Now that Nico has retired, I assume the one-eyed Hamilton fanboys * will start their hate campaign against his new teammate .

There is so much pettyness displayed on this thread (Britney, quitter, softy, etc.) by people who will never in their lives achieve anything like as much as Nico has already; it's disappointing but not surprising.

• I an not accusing all Hamilton fans of this.

I've just reads through this thread and couldn't agree more. The Shamilton fanboys will put down anyone who dares be a team mate to the FIA's current cash cow. He surely has to be the most undeserving champion ever, such a lack of respect for the sport and the fans. He really doesn't know how lucky he is and wouldn't have the guts to quit whilst on top, much preferring to milk the sport and fans for every penny before leaving, probably blaming someone else as he walks out the door. A thoroughly dislikeable little child who does himself no favours.

I'm no Rosberg fan, but the simple fact is, the best driver of the year won as he had the most points. Spin it how you want but its there for all to see in black and white, I cant stand all this 'not a true champion' and 'Lewis would have won it if...'

[DJFish]

Oh piffle, I just wrote a big long winded reply and the damn thing disappeared!

Anyway, I think its entirely possible that Nico has decided that, having achieved his pre-ordained destiny to Follow in the family footsteps, it's now time to follow his real dream of producing artisan footwear woven from free range yak fur or whatever the hell he dreams of?

Maybe he just wants to be around for his wife & kids more than his dad was for him?

I think having kids can change your perspective on the world and I think there are a lot of sporting families where there is an expectation that the next generation will automatically want to carry on the family business.

This seems especially prevalent in F1.

Look how many successful people give it all up to follow their real dream.
Maybe he's done just that?
And you can't under estimate just how much commitment is required to be at the top of any sport, just look how happy Button was when he "got his life back"
Maybe his analytical mind has realised that this is as good as it'll get so it's better to quit now than to fade away?

Maybe he just doesn't enjoy it anymore, maybe he never did?

[jason61c]

37chevy said:

Well blow me down.....Hamilton is doing his job, establishing himself as a multiple world champion, second on the all time win list and 3rd on pole positions.....how exactly is rosberg going to establish himself more firmly?

Will this history books remember there were only two cars that could win for three years and two of those titles? Shooting fish in a barrel really?

Actually this year the others were closer and he lost to his team mate in the same car....

[Vaud]

DJFish said:

it's now time to follow his real dream of producing artisan footwear woven from free range yak fur or whatever the hell he dreams of?

Partnership with Jody Scheckter?

[Derek Smith]

b0rk said:

You could easily argue that Senna certainly, Alonso slightly or the lesser extent Schumi all exhibit similar character traits, this may be something that in the personality of multi WDC's that gives them the drive and motivation to become multi WDC's. Vettel of late has not been particularly media friendly or forward thinking with repeated public rants.

Then there's N. Piquet. He had a mouth on him. Alonso is one for some cheap jibes as well. I've not heard Hamilton abusing officials in the way Vettel does, although he's been tested.

I do wonder about all the Hamilton criticism. What's the bother? The blokes a brilliant driver and F1 would be the poorer for his loss. He was very loyal and dignified during the time when McLaren were attacked. Not for him to go cap in hand to the FIA's boss and ask for absolution.

I don't know if Rosberg is intelligent, or that he has class. We don't know the reason for this retirement. It is all guesswork. He's retired. I don't see that he will be particularly missed either, at least by the fans. He might be if, for instance. Merc replace him with a dedicated #2. I don't think I can respect anyone who parks their car on circuit to stop a team mate qualifying faster.

Intelligent or not, perhaps he has other strings to his bow. I'm neither sorry nor glad he's left. Had it been Hamilton, or any of the other exciting drivers we've got then I'd have an opinion. He's left the sport for reasons we are not aware of.

I wonder if, on this thread dedicated to Rosberg, Hamilton has been mentioned more times. It seems strange.

Leave Hamilton. He's nothing to do with this. Rosberg has gone. He's yesterday. I hope, if rather vaguely, the multi-millionaire has a pleasant life. I certainly wish him no ill will. But he's gone. Let's move on from Hamilton. He's not retiring - thankfully.

Who'll replace Rosberg; now there's a subject worth discussing.

[Vaud]

Derek Smith said:

Who'll replace Rosberg; now there's a subject worth discussing.

I hope they go "brave" rather than "conservative" but the pool is pretty small of "easily available" drivers.

[SmoothCriminal]

I can not believe people are slagging Hamilton on here for what he said.

Congrats to Nico for the championship he amassed the most points at the end of the season.

But what Nico has done is a complete bottle job won and run, if Hamilton had done it i guarantee there wouldn't have been the pat on the back reaction he's getting Nico's getting off here.

If he wanted to retire so badly why did he fight for another contract.

And lifestyle jeeze Hamilton is only 31 so what if he's not married and got kids let him live his life the way he wants.

I really do hope he goes on to get another wdc or 2 just to see the rage from certain "fans" when he jacks it and says bye to f1.

[coetzeeh]

37chevy said:

r11co said:

If you can actually back that statement up rather than it just being the bitter retort of a Hamilton fanboi who perceives everyone else as the enemy and believes that Hamilton's failings are someone's, something's or anything else's fault but his own (even from within his own team), then yes you can run with it.

Edited by r11co on Friday 2nd December 23:36

Oh go on il do that

Monoco qualifying..parking it
Hungary yellow flag incident
Spa running into Lewis
Austria running Lewis off road
Hockenheim running others off the road
Barcelona...yeh maybe 50/50
Bahrain upping the engine setting from the pre agreed level whilst duelling with Hamilton to try and beat him

That's not to say Hamilton is whiter than white....but thought I'd point you in The right direction

Honest question, which of the above was NR penalised for following investigation by the stewards?

[Dr Z]

coetzeeh said:

37chevy said:

r11co said:

If you can actually back that statement up rather than it just being the bitter retort of a Hamilton fanboi who perceives everyone else as the enemy and believes that Hamilton's failings are someone's, something's or anything else's fault but his own (even from within his own team), then yes you can run with it.

Edited by r11co on Friday 2nd December 23:36

Oh go on il do that

Monoco qualifying..parking it
Hungary yellow flag incident
Spa running into Lewis
Austria running Lewis off road
Hockenheim running others off the road
Barcelona...yeh maybe 50/50
Bahrain upping the engine setting from the pre agreed level whilst duelling with Hamilton to try and beat him

That's not to say Hamilton is whiter than white....but thought I'd point you in The right direction

Honest question, which of the above was NR penalised for following investigation by the stewards?

Hockenheim vs Max which I thought was unfair. Austria vs Lewis, which is fair.

If we can discredit a WDC based on his bad driving in the past...now where did I put the highlights reel of 2011...

[chrisf_v6]

Dr Z said:

coetzeeh said:

37chevy said:

r11co said:

If you can actually back that statement up rather than it just being the bitter retort of a Hamilton fanboi who perceives everyone else as the enemy and believes that Hamilton's failings are someone's, something's or anything else's fault but his own (even from within his own team), then yes you can run with it.

Edited by r11co on Friday 2nd December 23:36

Oh go on il do that

Monoco qualifying..parking it
Hungary yellow flag incident
Spa running into Lewis
Austria running Lewis off road
Hockenheim running others off the road
Barcelona...yeh maybe 50/50
Bahrain upping the engine setting from the pre agreed level whilst duelling with Hamilton to try and beat him

That's not to say Hamilton is whiter than white....but thought I'd point you in The right direction

Honest question, which of the above was NR penalised for following investigation by the stewards?

Hockenheim vs Max which I thought was unfair. Austria vs Lewis, which is fair.

If we can discredit a WDC based on his bad driving in the past...now where did I put the highlights reel of 2011...

Yeah those massive penalties which cost him ... zero points. As for 2011, Vettel is cut from the same cloth.

[TorqueDirty]

TheLordJohn said:

TorqueDirty said:

Thread has become TL/DR for a Saturday morning so this may have been posted 20 times already.

Seems the conspiracy theorists are warming up. Saw this somewhere else earlier:

"NOW IT ALL MAKES SENSE!
Do you remember a couple of weeks ago, the phone call Toto Wolf made to Jos Verstappen? Well I believe Toto informed Jos Verstappen about the upcoming announcement from Nico. Toto wanted to find out if MAX had a escape clause in his contract with Red Bull and if SO.....Toto will sign MAX into the Silver Arrows, under the condition that MAX would stay away from interfering with Nico concerning the WDC. Looking back, it might well be that Christian Horner was also informed about Nico's retirement. This would explain the bad strategy calls Red Bull made, which was to ensure that Nico would become the next WDC. Hmmm What a prospect for 2017 MAX vs Louis can't wait. "

All tosh no doubt but quite amusing to consider.

Yep, well worth quoting.
But you made a mistake. YOU haven't put CAPITALS to EMPHASISE what you are saying!!

SORRY. I will do BETTER NEXT TIME

[alexrogers92]

Rosberg won the title simply off the back off Lewis' misfortune. Simple. The fact that he's now bailed out is embarrassing, there is that old saying ''You're never a true champion until you defend your title''.

[Pebbles167]

This thread has really brought out a lot of lurkers. Creepy!

[Hungrymc]

coetzeeh said:

Honest question, which of the above was NR penalised for following investigation by the stewards?

Fair question, But like winning a penalty at football when there was little or no contact, just because you get away with it doesn't make it OK.

I wouldn't crucify Nico for it. It is poor, far worse than what we saw on Sunday which triggered cries of 'sack him'. But this stuff goes on in F1 and is why the teams and stewards have a tricky job on their hands finding the right balance. Nico played the game well (if underhanded).

[MTech535]

alexrogers92 said:

Rosberg won the title simply off the back off Lewis' misfortune. Simple. The fact that he's now bailed out is embarrassing, there is that old saying ''You're never a true champion until you defend your title''.

Not many "true" champions in F1 history then.

[funkyrobot]

alexrogers92 said:

Rosberg won the title simply off the back off Lewis' misfortune. Simple. The fact that he's now bailed out is embarrassing, there is that old saying ''You're never a true champion until you defend your title''.

I guess Hamilton isn't a true champion then.