Nico Rosberg retires from F1
Discussion
r11co said:
That it had f-all to do with their relative career paths once Lewis was established. Both he and Nico had talent and equal backing when it mattered (plus Anthony Hamilton was never a pauper anyway).
The ony difference it might have made was that former WDC father maybe had a bit more perspective having been there before and thought it wise to ensure son had an education beyond that learned behind a steering wheel.
Getting away from the handbags, I think this is an interesting point.The ony difference it might have made was that former WDC father maybe had a bit more perspective having been there before and thought it wise to ensure son had an education beyond that learned behind a steering wheel.
Most F1 drivers, in fact most elite sportsmen/women, retire at a relatively early age. The question is what to do with the next 40 years of your life.
I think that's the reason may sportspeople keep going well after their peak - it's all they know.
Good on Nico for leaving while at the top of his game - he's worked bloody hard to get there, and once you have won the WDC, what's left to prove?
I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in some sort of motorsport in a few years time, but not something as all-consuming as driving in F1.
AW111 said:
Getting away from the handbags, I think this is an interesting point.
Most F1 drivers, in fact most elite sportsmen/women, retire at a relatively early age. The question is what to do with the next 40 years of your life.
I think that's the reason may sportspeople keep going well after their peak - it's all they know.
Good on Nico for leaving while at the top of his game - he's worked bloody hard to get there, and once you have won the WDC, what's left to prove?
I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in some sort of motorsport in a few years time, but not something as all-consuming as driving in F1.
Well, in addition to Keke running the aforementioned young driver team, he also managed Mika Hakkinen and JJ Lehto..Most F1 drivers, in fact most elite sportsmen/women, retire at a relatively early age. The question is what to do with the next 40 years of your life.
I think that's the reason may sportspeople keep going well after their peak - it's all they know.
Good on Nico for leaving while at the top of his game - he's worked bloody hard to get there, and once you have won the WDC, what's left to prove?
I wouldn't be surprised to see him back in some sort of motorsport in a few years time, but not something as all-consuming as driving in F1.
AW111 said:
... what's left to prove?
Well, the most obvious thing to prove, is to answer the critics that it wasn't a fluke and that he only won because of the horrendous reliability of his team mates car...but then again he has obviously weighed that up, and is happy within himself that whatever way the win came around.
I hope he has a very happy life with his new family and wish him all the best.
PorkInsider said:
What a f
king crock of st.
By definition, you're demeaning anyone who doesn't have a family; either by choice or because they can't.
People like you really fk me off. You're like the politicians bking on about 'hard working families'.
LOL. Calm down sweetheart!king crock of st.By definition, you're demeaning anyone who doesn't have a family; either by choice or because they can't.
People like you really f
k me off. You're like the politicians bking on about 'hard working families'.I'm sorry for you that you were unable to grasp my point.
LDN said:
I wish I didn't have to lower myself to your level... it is indeed st for everyone else to see these back and forth's. But, wow, you come across very bitter and a tad twisted. You've been proven wrong on every count and still resort to talking on things like drivers fathers and the 'education' they've afforded their sons. Simply bizarre! Speaks volumes on where you're at.
You don't seem to have a counter argument to my point though, and have resorted to attacking me personally - something I have never 'lowered myself' to doing to you. I haven't been proven wrong at all. You have just repeated that assertion with no evidence to back it up beyond your faith-held beliefs, put words in my mouth (I take you have now confirmed I have never questioned Hamilton's talent) and attempted to introduce irrelevant straw-men arguments such as my knowledge of the karting formulas to try and disredit me.t for everyone else to see these back and forth's. But, wow, you come across very bitter and a tad twisted. You've been proven wrong on every count and still resort to talking on things like drivers fathers and the 'education' they've afforded their sons. Simply bizarre! Speaks volumes on where you're at. Take a long hard look at yourself before you ponder your next reply and ask - are you countering the message or simply attacking the messenger?
anonymous said:
[redacted]
Sums up the entrenched Hamilton fan beautifully.When I hear a coherent explanation justifying Hamilton's very public displays of immaturity, petulence and poor judgement revealing his personality failings (rather than a flat denial that they exist) then we might actually get somewhere.
Edited by r11co on Sunday 4th December 07:53
Nico won the championship in exactly the same way as everybody else did - by getting more points. It isn't a popularity contest, nor the X factor and the result is cast in stone. So why on earth the poor sod has to 'answer his critics ' god only knows. What do they want - a bloody recount?
As for Hamilton's appalling reliability - I don't call six retirements in THREE years too shabby but again- so what ? Are you meant to get consolation prizes? Chris Amon would have amassed lots of those ...
As for Hamilton's appalling reliability - I don't call six retirements in THREE years too shabby but again- so what ? Are you meant to get consolation prizes? Chris Amon would have amassed lots of those ...
Mansells Tash said:
AW111 said:
... what's left to prove?
Well, the most obvious thing to prove, is to answer the critics that it wasn't a fluke and that he only won because of the horrendous reliability of his team mates car...but then again he has obviously weighed that up, and is happy within himself that whatever way the win came around.
I hope he has a very happy life with his new family and wish him all the best.
If any other WDC or WDC runner-up criticised him, it might be worthy of deeper discussion, but I'm not aware of anyone that has?
r11co said:
When I hear a coherent explanation justifying Hamilton's personality failings (rather than a flat denial that they exist) then we might actually get somewhere.
I call it the Michael Jackson factor. He's one of those people who grew up only knowing one thing and it's skewed his personality somewhat. I am for the record, a big fan of his. I also think that when interviewed on a one on one basis he comes across brilliantly. It's just he seems out of his depth and socially inept in some situations-usually when put on the spot or in large gatherings which to me he never looks completely comfortable with.
I don't doubt that in private he's a very different person, plus I admit this armchair psychology is only from watching to coverage for all these years but it's how I see it anyway.
As I said, I'm a big fan of his and I'll miss him when he retires. But occasionally he does say things that make him sound like a knob and give his detractors ammunition. The 18 years comment was one, it would be daft to think there won't be others.
Vaud said:
Mansells Tash said:
AW111 said:
... what's left to prove?
Well, the most obvious thing to prove, is to answer the critics that it wasn't a fluke and that he only won because of the horrendous reliability of his team mates car...but then again he has obviously weighed that up, and is happy within himself that whatever way the win came around.
I hope he has a very happy life with his new family and wish him all the best.
There isn't a lot left to say I guess.
I'm still disappointed that Nico has retired. As has been said many times, a very good driver and a deserving champion. It's a shame (for me - not him) that he will follow this other path as I was sure he would have been stronger again next year. He had some brilliant weekends this year and was under enormous pressure during the last 4 weekends, particularly Brazil. He withstood it all and did what he had to do. Deserving WDC.
I'm a fan of Lewis (for his driving, not his personality or public persona). But Nico has been a big part of the grid and I've warmed to him (through his driving) more and more over the years. There have been weekends when he's really annoyed me with his tactics, but once again, you don't win in F1 or any other sport by being half hearted and staying a gentlemanly step inside of the rules. I'll really miss him from the races next year. Hopefully the shuffling of the pack brings a new young exciting driver through to the sport.
I think this thread (and every F1 thread) exhibits a bit of a lack of understanding that a) people are not the same, we all have different beliefs, values and priorities and are 'wired differently'. And b) these F1 drivers are by definition a rare and unusual bread. A combination of nature and nurture, they are born with some talent or aptitude or drive and then are streamed and pushed through their childhood into this life, everyone around them constantly pushing in the direction of becoming F1 champion at all costs.
They have far more justification for being odd people than most of us do.
I'm still disappointed that Nico has retired. As has been said many times, a very good driver and a deserving champion. It's a shame (for me - not him) that he will follow this other path as I was sure he would have been stronger again next year. He had some brilliant weekends this year and was under enormous pressure during the last 4 weekends, particularly Brazil. He withstood it all and did what he had to do. Deserving WDC.
I'm a fan of Lewis (for his driving, not his personality or public persona). But Nico has been a big part of the grid and I've warmed to him (through his driving) more and more over the years. There have been weekends when he's really annoyed me with his tactics, but once again, you don't win in F1 or any other sport by being half hearted and staying a gentlemanly step inside of the rules. I'll really miss him from the races next year. Hopefully the shuffling of the pack brings a new young exciting driver through to the sport.
I think this thread (and every F1 thread) exhibits a bit of a lack of understanding that a) people are not the same, we all have different beliefs, values and priorities and are 'wired differently'. And b) these F1 drivers are by definition a rare and unusual bread. A combination of nature and nurture, they are born with some talent or aptitude or drive and then are streamed and pushed through their childhood into this life, everyone around them constantly pushing in the direction of becoming F1 champion at all costs.
They have far more justification for being odd people than most of us do.
Nico retiring was a shock because it came from knowwhere, but as had been said on here there is a lot to be said for going out on a high. The Lewis Nico rivalry was great for the sport and I hope that increases next year with his new teammate.
For me as a Hamilton fan, it shows how entrenched people are when Lewis gets a very public kicking of some folk for disobeying some flaky team orders last weekend, for trying to win the WDC in the only fair way left to him, and the flack he took for not being a team player. Then Nico does the ultimate betrayal of him team by walking away from his employer after creaming off the ultimate award, and killing off any possibility of Nico repaying some of their non-financial investment in him.
For me as a Hamilton fan, it shows how entrenched people are when Lewis gets a very public kicking of some folk for disobeying some flaky team orders last weekend, for trying to win the WDC in the only fair way left to him, and the flack he took for not being a team player. Then Nico does the ultimate betrayal of him team by walking away from his employer after creaming off the ultimate award, and killing off any possibility of Nico repaying some of their non-financial investment in him.
glazbagun said:
vonuber said:
Can i just say it is really sad and pathetic that on a thread about Rosberg's retirement - a mature decision made by someone who clearly knows what they want form life and are mature enough to make a difficult decision - we've yet again descended into bickering about Hamilton.
It;'s really pathetic from all of you to be honest, and quite boring.
No wonder he quit if he even got wind of half of what goes on in places like this.
+1It;'s really pathetic from all of you to be honest, and quite boring.
No wonder he quit if he even got wind of half of what goes on in places like this.
glazbagun said:
Dr Z said:
Let me see if I can lift up the tone of the thread. Highlights of Nico Rosberg. Some mine, some from the F1 page.
2002; Spectacular single-seater debut, winning Formula ADAC Championship with nine victories. It earns him a Williams test and at 17 he becomes the youngest person to drive a Formula One car.
2003; Graduates to Formula Three Euro Series with Team Rosberg. Claims one race win and finishes eighth overall in the championship.
2004;Takes a further three victories in the Formula Three Euro Series.
2005; Wins the inaugural GP2 championship, the replacement series for Formula 3000. Signed as Williams test driver in May, before winning race contract with the team for 2006.
2006; Paired with Mark Webber at Williams. Announces his arrival to the sport with a fastest lap in his first race; when the cars were still physically very demanding to drive.
2007; Stayed with Williams. More fastest laps and consistency followed. Best finish of 4th place in the Brazilian GP.
2008; Gets on the podium for the first time at the opening race of the season with his childhood friend/rival.
2008; A frenetic Singapore Grand Prix saw Rosberg finish second despite receiving a drive-through penalty.
2009; A best of 4th place finish starting 15th at the German GP.
Damn. That’s a fecking good looking car that!
Announces departure to the newly re-formed Mercedes works team.
2010; Paired with one Michael Schumacher. Drives the W01 to three podiums. Scores twice the points of his team mate. Best drives probably at Silverstone (starting 5th, finished 3rd).
Spa (started 14th, finished 6th)
2011; Showed great qualifying pace but the car simply lacked race pace. Best drive probably at Suzuka. Started 23rd to score a point (10th).
2012; Gets his maiden F1 pole in China. Dominates the race, winning against the McLarens. Gaining the honour of giving the works Mercedes outfit its first win since the 1955 Italian GP.
2nd place at Monaco finishing 0.6s behind his old team mate Mark Webber.
2013; Paired with Lewis Hamilton. Two yellow helmets in a team.
Misses out on early podium in Malaysia because of team orders, but then takes three consecutive poles and is rewarded with well-deserved Monaco victory for Mercedes. Wins again in Great Britain en route to sixth overall in the standings.
2014; Dominates Mercedes team mate Hamilton in qualifying, securing 11 poles in the all-conquering F1 W05. With five wins and 10 further podiums, takes title race down to the wire, but ultimately cannot quite match his rival's race form, finishing a strong second overall.
2015; Finishes runner-up to Mercedes team mate Hamilton for the second year in succession, though this time the fight is not as close, despite six wins and seven poles. A late-season surge in form, however, hints at a closer contest in prospect for 2016.
2016;Starts 2016 as he left off the year before, winning the first four races to put himself in charge of the drivers’ standings. Hamilton stages a fight back mid-season, but another flurry of wins in Belgium, Italy, Singapore and Japan put Rosberg back in the driving seat, with the German doing enough in the final races to see off another furious Hamilton surge. Childhood ambition realised, he announces his retirement less than a week after being crowned world champion.
On top of the world.
“We did it! We did it!” ...I liked that.
What a relief.
Selfie.
Can’t take this away from him now.
Looking back at it, he’s had an enviable career. Comes into the sport in a whirlwind of a fastest lap. Goes out in a cloud of tyre smoke. Who is he, some kind of rock star?
Goodbye Nico.
Y'know, it's like a phobia of mine when people post entire epic posts just to add a "+1" on the end, but I'm happy to break it today. Honestly, well done that guy in whatever he does next. Back in 2014 I expected HAM to crush him in quali, but the opposite happend and it was only Hamiltons superior racecraft that kept him ahead. what great exploitation of exceptional talent!2002; Spectacular single-seater debut, winning Formula ADAC Championship with nine victories. It earns him a Williams test and at 17 he becomes the youngest person to drive a Formula One car.
2003; Graduates to Formula Three Euro Series with Team Rosberg. Claims one race win and finishes eighth overall in the championship.
2004;Takes a further three victories in the Formula Three Euro Series.
2005; Wins the inaugural GP2 championship, the replacement series for Formula 3000. Signed as Williams test driver in May, before winning race contract with the team for 2006.
2006; Paired with Mark Webber at Williams. Announces his arrival to the sport with a fastest lap in his first race; when the cars were still physically very demanding to drive.
2007; Stayed with Williams. More fastest laps and consistency followed. Best finish of 4th place in the Brazilian GP.
2008; Gets on the podium for the first time at the opening race of the season with his childhood friend/rival.
2008; A frenetic Singapore Grand Prix saw Rosberg finish second despite receiving a drive-through penalty.
2009; A best of 4th place finish starting 15th at the German GP.
Damn. That’s a fecking good looking car that!
Announces departure to the newly re-formed Mercedes works team.
2010; Paired with one Michael Schumacher. Drives the W01 to three podiums. Scores twice the points of his team mate. Best drives probably at Silverstone (starting 5th, finished 3rd).
Spa (started 14th, finished 6th)
2011; Showed great qualifying pace but the car simply lacked race pace. Best drive probably at Suzuka. Started 23rd to score a point (10th).
2012; Gets his maiden F1 pole in China. Dominates the race, winning against the McLarens. Gaining the honour of giving the works Mercedes outfit its first win since the 1955 Italian GP.
2nd place at Monaco finishing 0.6s behind his old team mate Mark Webber.
2013; Paired with Lewis Hamilton. Two yellow helmets in a team.
Misses out on early podium in Malaysia because of team orders, but then takes three consecutive poles and is rewarded with well-deserved Monaco victory for Mercedes. Wins again in Great Britain en route to sixth overall in the standings.
2014; Dominates Mercedes team mate Hamilton in qualifying, securing 11 poles in the all-conquering F1 W05. With five wins and 10 further podiums, takes title race down to the wire, but ultimately cannot quite match his rival's race form, finishing a strong second overall.
2015; Finishes runner-up to Mercedes team mate Hamilton for the second year in succession, though this time the fight is not as close, despite six wins and seven poles. A late-season surge in form, however, hints at a closer contest in prospect for 2016.
2016;Starts 2016 as he left off the year before, winning the first four races to put himself in charge of the drivers’ standings. Hamilton stages a fight back mid-season, but another flurry of wins in Belgium, Italy, Singapore and Japan put Rosberg back in the driving seat, with the German doing enough in the final races to see off another furious Hamilton surge. Childhood ambition realised, he announces his retirement less than a week after being crowned world champion.
On top of the world.
“We did it! We did it!” ...I liked that.
What a relief.
Selfie.
Can’t take this away from him now.
Looking back at it, he’s had an enviable career. Comes into the sport in a whirlwind of a fastest lap. Goes out in a cloud of tyre smoke. Who is he, some kind of rock star?
Goodbye Nico.
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.
Or maybe he decided given his wife had their first child recently, that enough is enough and defending the title is not as important as his family What a weak way to leave.
Calling an F1 champion a loser is an interesting definition of the word
MDL111 said:
Or maybe he decided given his wife had their first child recently, that enough is enough and defending the title is not as important as his family
Calling an F1 champion a loser is an interesting definition of the word
I'm not sure about calling him a loser either - but Rosberg himself has said that if he hadn't won this year he would have carried on. So, I think you're wrong on that count.Calling an F1 champion a loser is an interesting definition of the word
In amongst all the tribalism on here, people seem generally to have overlooked the fact (as Niki has said) that it was a complete suprise and has upset all the people who work at Mercedes and have helped him achieve his WDC this year. He really has dropped the team in it.
suffolk009 said:
I'm not sure about calling him a loser either - but Rosberg himself has said that if he hadn't won this year he would have carried on. So, I think you're wrong on that count.
In amongst all the tribalism on here, people seem generally to have overlooked the fact (as Niki has said) that it was a complete suprise and has upset all the people who work at Mercedes and have helped him achieve his WDC this year. He really has dropped the team in it.
What has he dropped the team into? Will they cease functioning without him? There's hundreds of people, £millions, a long queue of drivers wanting that seat, Lewis provides continuity regarding car development, etc.In amongst all the tribalism on here, people seem generally to have overlooked the fact (as Niki has said) that it was a complete suprise and has upset all the people who work at Mercedes and have helped him achieve his WDC this year. He really has dropped the team in it.
The best thing about all of this is that next season IF Merc F1 have the same level of dominance as the last 3 years you will see a driver like say Bottas suddenly getting 2nd's and possible odd wins with ease.
Or if Button came back he genuinely would suddenly be in with a WDC shout!
Its nuts, i'm surprised Nikki hasn't put his name forward to go for that 4th WDC.....
If they opt for Pascal then Lewis is WDC until the rest can catch up in performance as Pascal will be a very very clear Number 2 driver who will just roll around getting 2nd and happy to be at the front for a change.
Or if Button came back he genuinely would suddenly be in with a WDC shout!
Its nuts, i'm surprised Nikki hasn't put his name forward to go for that 4th WDC.....
If they opt for Pascal then Lewis is WDC until the rest can catch up in performance as Pascal will be a very very clear Number 2 driver who will just roll around getting 2nd and happy to be at the front for a change.
tommunster10 said:
The best thing about all of this is that next season IF Merc F1 have the same level of dominance as the last 3 years you will see a driver like say Bottas suddenly getting 2nd's and possible odd wins with ease.
Or if Button came back he genuinely would suddenly be in with a WDC shout!
Its nuts, i'm surprised Nikki hasn't put his name forward to go for that 4th WDC.....
If they opt for Pascal then Lewis is WDC until the rest can catch up in performance as Pascal will be a very very clear Number 2 driver who will just roll around getting 2nd and happy to be at the front for a change.
Wow...for once we agree. That said I geniuinly think that red bull will be a threat to Mercedes next year...more aero on the cars and that's their speciality..could be an interesting oneOr if Button came back he genuinely would suddenly be in with a WDC shout!
Its nuts, i'm surprised Nikki hasn't put his name forward to go for that 4th WDC.....
If they opt for Pascal then Lewis is WDC until the rest can catch up in performance as Pascal will be a very very clear Number 2 driver who will just roll around getting 2nd and happy to be at the front for a change.
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