Nico Rosberg to retire from F1 (!)

[SectorOne]

@SectorOne I bet. Although I can't help but think that if Toto/Paddy/Nikki found it tough with Lewis and Nico there job will be much harder with Lewis and Alonso. Yeah they say they have respect for each other since 2007 but Lewis and Nico were meant to be good friends and look what happened. Would they want that hassle/risk?

Yea i understand that, particularly when it comes to the politics side of the rivalry but funnily enough i can´t remember a single time Alonso and Hamilton collided with each other at Mclaren?

Arguably they should actually have respect for each other today. I don´t think a current two time world champ had any respect for a rookie or a future star-rookie had any respect for the opposition (think Max today)

I mean if Rosberg can exit out like that i´m sure the old fox has a couple clauses in his contract

edit: in any case, Mercedes will need another top driver, there´s a storm coming in the form of Red Bull and putting Pascal in the Mercedes just won´t cut it if you ask me.

[Sevach]

What the F? This isn't april guys...
Did he think this through? I mean i'm sure he was stressed out over the last couple of races... chances are it's gonna be easier if he finds himself in that position again.

I think he makes a comeback, he's too young.

All those guys who were eager to lock themselves for next year are banging their heads against the wall right now.

[Nxpster]

Do you guys think they let him go with out a replacement? All that's happening right now is paper work, they already have a driver. And we know who Toto likes don't we?

[iotar__]

Ecclestone is shocked: http://www.grandprix247.com/2016/12/02/ ... [quote]“It was just as big a shock to me as you,” he told Reuters by telephone after Rosberg dropped the bombshell days after securing his first championship in at the Abu Dhabi season-ender.
“I had dinner with (Mercedes team boss) Toto (Wolff) last night and he obviously couldn’t say anything to me (about it).”
While making light of the German driver’s decision – “He needs more time to spend his money, that’s all.”
[/quote]
- Yep...more time to spend money. Now how about you Bernard E.?
- So shocked he's already thinking about replacements. Guess who's the obvious one, clue: the one that can't put qualifying and start together, perfect candidate for Hamilton indeed . What a cheap salesman Ecclestone is.

[zeph]

Out with a bang!

Boy got style, you have to admit.



But who's going to fill his seat? Sleepless nights for a lot of folks, I bet.

[Eddie_Temple]

@SectorOne I bet. Although I can't help but think that if Toto/Paddy/Nikki found it tough with Lewis and Nico there job will be much harder with Lewis and Alonso. Yeah they say they have respect for each other since 2007 but Lewis and Nico were meant to be good friends and look what happened. Would they want that hassle/risk?

Yea i understand that, particularly when it comes to the politics side of the rivalry but funnily enough i can´t remember a single time Alonso and Hamilton collided with each other at Mclaren?

Arguably they should actually have respect for each other today. I don´t think a current two time world champ had any respect for a rookie or a future star-rookie had any respect for the opposition (think Max today)

I mean if Rosberg can exit out like that i´m sure the old fox has a couple clauses in his contract

edit: in any case, Mercedes will need another top driver, there´s a storm coming in the form of Red Bull and putting Pascal in the Mercedes just won´t cut it if you ask me.

Red Bull should be an epic intra-team battle next year, but IF the cars are evenly matched between the teams, is Merc better poised to go with a #1/#2 situation?

Pascal should at least be handy enough to fend off a Red Bull or two?

Either way, hats off to Nico for bowing out in style, well done.

[GrandAxe]

This serves Mercedes right. If only they had known, they wouldn't have provided Lewis with barbeques instead of engines.
It also serves the FIA right, next time they might think about applying the right penalties (eg for improving Q1 times under yellows, shunts etc) regardless of politics.

[Ozan]

I would like to see Jenson Button for short term , maybe for 1 or 2 year deal in Mercedes. He is experienced and cope with the championship stress.

on the other hand, if they want a long term plan, I think they need to hire Pascal Wehrlein or Esteban Ocon.

[matt_b]

I would like to see Jenson Button for short term , maybe for 1 or 2 year deal in Mercedes. He is experienced and cope with the championship stress.

on the other hand, if they want a long term plan, I think they need to hire Pascal Wehrlein or Esteban Ocon.

JB has had enough and wants to enjoy his life after F1 as you could see in the last race, he also achieved his dream.

My pick is Pascal Wehrlein, young German prospect with a year experience in F1, time to give the young talent a chance at the top, just look what Max has done with his chance at Red Bull after a year at Torro Rosso. This is what the Mercedes board will probably learn towards. Just a guess though.

[langwadt]

I am trying to make sense of his decision.

1. His dream of becoming a world champion is realized.
2. It appears that he had enough of people asking questions in many an interviews where it was made apparent again and again, how Lewis is stronger than him and how he handles it.
3. He probably feels like he does not have it in him to repeat this success again.
4. Was he unhappy about his new contract that was for 2 years and not of that he wanted, which was for 3 years? Now that he has won the WDC, he calls it quits. Sort of "In your face Toto" kind of stuff.
5. Would he have quit regardless, after this season even if he would have lost? Because it take s a lot to keep coming back after season long struggle that only fetches a defeat. 3 years in a row.
6. I remember Dr Zetche had mentioned that Wherlein is the future. So, was there some sort of agreement struck between Nico, Toto and Zetche to help him win a title and retire, so that Wherlein can come in for next season. Ocon was provided a good place in FI and Wherlein was held back.

or he got an ultimatum from his wife, or decided for himself, that F1 is too stress full and not compatible with family life

[hemichromis]

To be honest i commend Rosberg for this decision. So many continue on hoping for better things, look at Alonso fighting to get in Q3, Vettel looking decidedly average against a teamate on the cusp of retiring.

I'm surprised, some would say he lacks the racing heart of the Hamilton but what more could he achieve?

[dans79]

or he got an ultimatum from his wife, or decided for himself, that F1 is too stress full and not compatible with family life

Look, I disliked Nico more than most as a driver and a personality, but this is to much.

How about it is exactly what he said, "he" didn't like what he and his family had to endure.

[Shrieker]

This is quite unusual. Wait a second. Actually it is not, Stoner did the same thing in MotoGP. Except he came back for Suzuka 8 hours, broke his ankle, his shoulder blade and some other stuff, nearly killing himself. Because of a stupid mechanical failure.

I can totally understand his decision, especially considering what happened to Bianchi. This is still a very dangerous sport, and many people who are not in it have a false sense of security. Hell, even some of the people in it.

Still, totally unexpected tho.

[Restomaniac]

To be honest i commend Rosberg for this decision. So many continue on hoping for better things, look at Alonso fighting to get in Q3, Vettel looking decidedly average against a teamate on the cusp of retiring.

I'm surprised, some would say he lacks the racing heart of the Hamilton but what more could he achieve?

Prove beyond doubt that he was more than just 'captain lucky' in 2016?

[wesley123]

I would like to see Jenson Button for short term , maybe for 1 or 2 year deal in Mercedes. He is experienced and cope with the championship stress.

on the other hand, if they want a long term plan, I think they need to hire Pascal Wehrlein or Esteban Ocon.

JB has had enough and wants to enjoy his life after F1 as you could see in the last race, he also achieved his dream.

My pick is Pascal Wehrlein, young German prospect with a year experience in F1, time to give the young talent a chance at the top, just look what Max has done with his chance at Red Bull after a year at Torro Rosso. This is what the Mercedes board will probably learn towards. Just a guess though.

Wehrlein is pretty much confirmed already, him missing the seat at FI was pretty unexpected, I guess we now know why.

Outside of that, who is there to fill the seat to begin with? Sainz would be the only one really, and no way will Merc choose a Red Bull junior over their own