Rosberg retires from F1

[Tim R-T-C]

Big news today that newly crowned F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has announced his retirement from F1.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38185846

World champion Nico Rosberg has announced he has retired from Formula 1 with immediate effect.

The 31-year-old German won his first world title on Sunday, beating Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton by finishing second in the final race in Abu Dhabi.

"I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right," Rosberg said.

Rosberg won nine of this season's 21 grands prix, beating three-time champion Hamilton by five points.

And when asked if there was any chance of a return, Rosberg added: "No definitely not. End of story. Done."...

I wonder if he is leaving F1 or motorsport in general? Lots of other places for a driver to go, FIA WEC, Formula E and DTM would all be viable options with factory teams that have the budget for him.

With Webber retiring from Porsche in the WEC this year, there is an F1 driver shaped gap in a championship winning team there waiting for him. It is a much reduced schedule from F1.

DTM has not always been successful for former F1 drivers, Mika Hakkinen, Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard all did very poorly there, but it is a smaller season and minimal travelling compared to F1.

 

[GB]

I think that was a huge surprise to everyone.

Not a fan of Hamilton nor Mercedes in general, no feelings either way for Rosberg but will miss the on track (and off track) rivalry between the two. Its about the only decent thing to have watched the last couple of years.

Good luck to him and his family anyway.

 

[Domh245]

Big news today that newly crowned F1 World Champion Nico Rosberg has announced his retirement from F1.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38185846

I wonder if he is leaving F1 or motorsport in general? Lots of other places for a driver to go, FIA WEC, Formula E and DTM would all be viable options with factory teams that have the budget for him.

With Webber retiring from Porsche in the WEC this year, there is an F1 driver shaped gap in a championship winning team there waiting for him. It is a much reduced schedule from F1.

DTM has not always been successful for former F1 drivers, Mika Hakkinen, Ralf Schumacher and David Coulthard all did very poorly there, but it is a smaller season and minimal travelling compared to F1.

Porsche's seats in the 2 919s are all accounted for now, with the arrival of Lotterer from Audi and some Porsche "juniors" in Tandy and Bamber (of 2015 24H Le Mans winning fame). Rosberg has made it fairly clear that he wants to spend time with his family, so I would expect that he'll have at least one year off before he thinks about returning in another series. Mercedes have an option on entering Formula e from series 5 (2018-2019) - Rosberg could be a good person to have in that team.

The really interesting question is who is going to get the seat at Mercedes - Wehrlein would seem an obvious choices (Mercedes Backed and has tested car multiple times, out of contract at Manor), but then there are plenty of others who would happily be bought out (or would buy their own way out cough cough Alonso) to go into the seat (Ocon & Bottas falling into the former category, and the rest of the grid into the latter!)

 

[Tim R-T-C]

Didn't know Nick and Earl had full time Porsche drives for 2017, good for them. Have bumped into Mr Tandy many times at events and he is a great chap.

Although I wonder if Rosberg might find his way into a Le Mans one-off seat if there are any extra LMP1 cars running in the big one.

I would love to see Bottas getting a top drive, but sadly his time might be up. At Williams he often did well, but seemed to lack that 'killer instinct' even when their car was easily second best on the grid. Ocon is a name for the future and he would be a good one there.

 

[Busaholic]

He's chosen to go out at the top, the first to do so since Prost, and should be commended for a rational decision. I hope he doesn't change his mind, and particularly doesn't do a Schumacher. His statement hinted that he didn't think he'd win again, which is probably realistic. He should never get into a racing car of any description ever again, no matter the temptation. Get them wanting more, but no encore!

 

[richw]

Hamilton gave a rather touching interview shortly after that he will miss the rivalry, and that Nico was going to spend more time with his young family.
May also leave Mercedes short of a top second driver as most will already be contracted now for next year. I wonder who it might be?

 

[Groningen]

Rosberg; a name that will quickly be forgotten.

 

[DarloRich]

A shock - but "they" say always go out at the top and leaving "them" wanting more

He won and decided the sacrifice and the danger weren't worth it anymore - good luck to him.

Rosberg; a name that will quickly be forgotten.

apart from the fact it is the name carried by 2 formula 1 world champions.................................

 

[Phil.]

He's chosen to go out at the top, the first to do so since Prost, and should be commended for a rational decision. I hope he doesn't change his mind, and particularly doesn't do a Schumacher. His statement hinted that he didn't think he'd win again, which is probably realistic. He should never get into a racing car of any description ever again, no matter the temptation. Get them wanting more, but no encore!

Absolutely. 100% agree. One should always go leaving the audience wanting more.

 

[GB]

Rosberg; a name that will quickly be forgotten.

Why's that??

 

[Howardh]

If you were Max Verstappen, and your Red Bull contract expired shortly, would you go to Mercedes, or stay with Red Bull - assuming your move was to give you a better chance of winning the Championship rather than financial??

Personally; and contractually this will happen anyway (most likely), I think Max would be better off staying with the team he knows - and his cars are reliable/fast enough.

 

[Domh245]

If you were Max Verstappen, and your Red Bull contract expired shortly, would you go to Mercedes, or stay with Red Bull - assuming your move was to give you a better chance of winning the Championship rather than financial??

Personally; and contractually this will happen anyway (most likely), I think Max would be better off staying with the team he knows - and his cars are reliable/fast enough.

With the new aero regulations, there is every chance that Red Bull will be faster next year

 

[DarloRich]

With the new aero regulations, there is every chance that Red Bull will be faster next year

And Newey is back in the fold according to the word on the street locally.............

 

[AlterEgo]

I remember as a kid, playing games, there was no "retiring as champ". Hasn't anyone told him??

 

[Monty]

And Newey is back in the fold according to the word on the street locally.............

I fully expect to see an Adrian Newey masterpiece next season, I also suspect Williams (who most have already written off) will also be strong as their 2016 car was a very conservative development of their 2015 entry and I have a hunch all their efforts have gone into the new regulations for the up coming season.

 

[richw]

If you were Max Verstappen, and your Red Bull contract expired shortly, would you go to Mercedes, or stay with Red Bull - assuming your move was to give you a better chance of winning the Championship rather than financial??

Personally; and contractually this will happen anyway (most likely), I think Max would be better off staying with the team he knows - and his cars are reliable/fast enough.

Verstappen has one of the longest contracts in F1 so I think him moving anywhere is unlikely, unless money talks.

Vettel has publically fallen out with bosses at Ferrari, so maybe looking for a way out but will Mercedes want to have two big egos again? It is known vettel has been looking for a move.

Valterri bottas I suspect is most likely. It's known he has a good relationship with Wolff, Williams are in a financial mess so would be glad to lose a high earner off the pay roll and replace with a cheaper rookie, and Bottas is apparently very laid back and low maintenance.

An outsider could be Paul di Resta. Under contract to Mercedes already, F1 experience. A safe stop gap?

 

[DarloRich]

Verstappen has one of the longest contracts in F1 so I think him moving anywhere is unlikely, unless money talks.

Vettel has publically fallen out with bosses at Ferrari, so maybe looking for a way out but will Mercedes want to have two big egos again? It is known vettel has been looking for a move.

Valterri bottas I suspect is most likely. It's known he has a good relationship with Wolff, Williams are in a financial mess so would be glad to lose a high earner off the pay roll and replace with a cheaper rookie, and Bottas is apparently very laid back and low maintenance.

An outsider could be Paul di Resta. Under contract to Mercedes already, F1 experience. A safe stop gap?

Pascal Wehrlein - Mercedes young driver, Germanic, currently in F1 at Manor and wont cost a fortune to secure. Rumour is Manor got Mercedes F1 wind tunnel access and aero bods to help them in exchange for putting the kid in the seat.

 

[D365]

Pascal Wehrlein - Mercedes young driver, Germanic, currently in F1 at Manor and wont cost a fortune to secure. Rumour is Manor got Mercedes F1 wind tunnel access and aero bods to help them in exchange for putting the kid in the seat.

For something that you say is a rumour, it's been very well known for the last year.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Verstappen is under contract till 2019, Mercedes won't be going near him. As much as anything, Hamilton would block it. They need someone good but not *too* good, Bottas would be a very good shout.

 

[cambsy]

Hamilton has already said he is not bothered who his team mate is, he would probably find someone like Verstappen a good challenge, doubt it would be Verstappen as it been said before he is under contract etc, I think fun team mates would be Alonso or Vettel, would be some fire works

 

[Groningen]

How a Finnish driver Keke Rosberg turns out a German Nico Rosberg. It would be strange story or very natural one.

 

[Darandio]

How a Finnish driver Keke Rosberg turns out a German Nico Rosberg. It would be strange story or very natural one.

I'm really baffled by your posts in this thread. You really don't like Rosberg, do you?

 

[GB]

How a Finnish driver Keke Rosberg turns out a German Nico Rosberg. It would be strange story or very natural one.

What on earth are you wibbling on about?

 

[Domh245]

How a Finnish driver Keke Rosberg turns out a German Nico Rosberg. It would be strange story or very natural one.

That'd be down to his German Mother! Equally, the Dutch wonderkid Verstappen is actually Belgian (both by Birthplace and by his Mother) but races under the Dutch flag that he can claim due to Jos.

 

[90sWereBetter]

I'm really baffled by your posts in this thread. You really don't like Rosberg, do you?

Probably because Rosberg dared to pass his beloved Verstappen in order to win the title at Abu Dhabi, I'm guessing.

The rumour I've heard is that Bottas goes to Mercedes, and Williams will take on Wehrlein as a replacement. I like this idea, but it does make me worry about Manor, because they were getting a fairly big discount on the Mercedes engines this season. The only other Mercedes junior driver aside from Ocon is Dani Juncadella, and he is, frankly, pants. I can't see him moving to Manor.

 

[Groningen]

Max Verstappen is both Belgium and Netherlands nationality! Jos Verstappen says because he drives under a Dutch license Max feels more Dutch. Before the success nobody knew him in Belgium.

What do i have against Rosberg? Nothing. I could care less. I have on 3 passions; trains, travel and activity on a certain website that is very difficult to do in the United Kingdom.

 

[DarloRich]

How a Finnish driver Keke Rosberg turns out a German Nico Rosberg. It would be strange story or very natural one.

would that be the same Nico Rosberg born in Wiesbaden in Germany with a German mother. He holds joint Finnish & German citizenship. Although de did live for a long time in Monaco so perhaps he should be described as Monégasque.

 

[Howardh]

would that be the same Nico Rosberg born in Wiesbaden in Germany with a German mother. He holds joint Finnish & German citizenship. Although de did live for a long time in Monaco so perhaps he should be described as Monégasque.

Or "tax dodger"?

 

[DarloRich]

Or "tax dodger"?

just because a multi millionaire chooses to live in a tax haven doesn't make him a ta........... oh.

 

[Howardh]

just because a multi millionaire chooses to live in a tax haven doesn't make him a ta........... oh.

Yeah, he lives just across the road from me, we share the same cleaner.



(That's as truthful a statement as anything in the Brexit pre-election.....)