Andy_Bangle Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) http://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/38185846 Since 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my ‘one thing’ to become Formula One World Champion. Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target.And now I’ve made it. I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right. My strongest emotion right now is deep gratitude to everybody who supported me to make that dream happen. This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough. I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two years; they fuelled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before. And of course that had an impact on the ones I love, too – it was a whole family effort of sacrifice, putting everything behind our target. I cannot find enough words to thank my wife Vivian; she has been incredible. She understood that this year was the big one, our opportunity to do it, and created the space for me to get full recovery between every race, looking after our daughter each night, taking over when things got tough and putting ourchampionship first. When I won the race in Suzuka, from the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became World Champion. On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time… and then the lights went out and I had the most intense 55 laps of my life. I took my decision on Monday evening. After reflecting for a day, the first people I told were Vivian and Georg (Nolte, from Nico’s management team), followed by Toto. The only thing that makes this decision in any way difficult for me is because I am putting my racing family into a toughsituation. But Toto understood. He knew straight away that I was completely convinced and that reassured me. My proudest achievement in racing will always be to have won the world championship with this incredible team of people,the Silver Arrows. Now, I’m just here to enjoy the moment. There is time tosavour the next weeks, to reflect on the season and to enjoy every experience that comes my way. After that, I will turn the next corner in my life and see what it has in store for me… – NICO ROSBERG --------------------- Nico Rosberg informed Toto Wolff of his decision to retire from Formula One on Tuesday following his world championship victory. Rosberg made the shock announcement that he will retire from F1 with immediate effect at the FIA Prize Giving in Vienna on Friday. Wolff says the decision came as a complete surprise to Mercedes and was informed as they celebrated his title earlier this week. “It was a very difficult moment," Wolff said. "We spent some time together in Abu Dhabi, we’ve been in Malaysia and it was pretty emotional with such a big crowd chanting for Nico. "Then we hopped on a flight from KL to Singapore and then from Singapore to Frankfurt and then we had some emotional discussions and he was so clear by what he said that it was no doubt in his decision. It’s very difficult for me personally.” Asked about the specific moment, Wolff says he got a call from Rosberg shortly after leaving him." “The moment I left the long in the morning to jump on the plane to Stuttgart and Nico was going to Weisbarden he called me. I said ‘I’m coming back’ and he said ‘Don’t come back’. “We’ve known each other for a long time and one thing I admire about Nico is his clarity of thinking, it’s black and white. You could argue after three days of partying you need to become sober to make a decision, but that’s not the case with Nico … from the first second he told me there was no doubt, this was his decision and that was it.” Asked what legacy Rosberg leaves the team, Wolff replied: “A huge legacy. "First of all the way he’s decided to leave Formula One is something that is unheard of and it’s something we all admire in a certain way, to call it a day when you’re at the top.” Rosberg himself added having to tell Wolff of his decision was the hardest part. “I couldn’t tell him in person," Rosberg said. "I had to call him just after we parted because it was too intense.” Edited December 2, 2016 by Andy_Bangle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Blimey! James Hunt style. Hope he doens't descend into women, drink, parties etc! Maybe it also goes to show how hard it is to fight Hamilton on the track. So, who's up for a Mercedes drive in 2017? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted December 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) So who do you think they will sign to replace him? It would be great to see Alonso in a competitive car again, before he retires. Esteban Ocon and Pascal Wehrlein are the test drivers. Meanwhile, on Toto Wolff's phone... Edited December 2, 2016 by Andy_Bangle Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) 8 minutes ago, cruiser647 said: Blimey! James Hunt style. Hope he doens't descend into women, drink, parties etc! Bit of a difference there. Nico is a classy guy with a wife and a baby. Hunt was a ****. (Yes, that rhymes...) Edited December 2, 2016 by garcon magnifique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mook Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Huge respect for him deciding to see his kid(s) grow up, rather than work. I didn't, because all I did was work, and I regret it massively to this day and always will. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cuprabob Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) Didn't see that coming. Maybe next year's car is a dog:-) Whehlein (sp) will replace him I guess as he was primed to stand in for Lewis earlier in the year when he threatened to quit. Edited December 2, 2016 by Cuprabob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy_Bangle Posted December 2, 2016 Author Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Seems legit: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 37 minutes ago, Cuprabob said: Whehlein (sp) will replace him I guess as he was primed to stand in for Lewis earlier in the year when he threatened to quit. What if Wehrlein is taking Hamilton's seat? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
E-bmw Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 Reading between the lines of his announcement he appears to be saying....... I gave up my life this year in the hope of achieving something other than first of the losers & I already know I can't remain competitive 2 years running, so I am throwing in the towel....... Ok Nico, we already knew all of the above, thanks for the confirmation. That reminds me..... Anyone seen Mr P lately? Has he been practising? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cruiser647 Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 really hope this does not now become a Lewis Hamilton procession of domination - like Schuey in his Ferrari.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
garcon magnifique Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 (edited) 1 hour ago, E-bmw said: That reminds me..... Anyone seen Mr P lately? Has he been practising? He's sitting patiently by his phone... 32 minutes ago, cruiser647 said: really hope this does not now become a Lewis Hamilton procession of domination - like Schuey in his Ferrari.... It's unlikely, given how many drivers there are on the grid who are either already or will be better than him. Schumacher really only had to deal with one serious rival at a time. And with the major rule change for next season I have a suspicion Mercedes won't enjoy anything like their current dominance. In fact I predict Hamilton will ultimately lose out to one of the Red Bull drivers in 2017. I'm not saying Lewis won't ever win his fourth WDC, but he will certainly have to battle for it. Edited December 2, 2016 by garcon magnifique Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarMad Posted December 2, 2016 Report Share Posted December 2, 2016 He was very emotional at the end some drivers are but he was certainly very vocal about how hard it was and how hard he had to try. Fair play to him he can focus on life outside of being an F1 driver and do something else. It will be interesting to see what he does next and if he even leaves racing completely. He could become a pundit but then he would still have the travel if not the training. I've not given up my job, but I've got flexible working that I'm sure isn't going me any favours with work but who cares I get to pick my little boy up a couple of days a week and spend more time with him and my daughter next year what is not to like about that. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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