Nico Rosberg has shocked motorsport fans with the surprise announcement that he is retiring only days after achieving his lifetime ambition by winning his first world championship with Mercedes.
The first German driver to win the Formula One championship in a German car says that he has "climbed my mountain" after finally realising his boyhood dream.
Rosberg, who was due to attend the governing FIA's gala prize-giving in Vienna later on Friday along with team mate and triple world champion Lewis Hamilton, did not say what he planned to do next.
He will leave with a record of 23 wins in 206 races and as only the second son of a champion to take the title, following in the footsteps of 1982 winner and father Keke.
"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," the German said on Facebook.
"Since 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my 'one thing' to become Formula One world champion,” he said in a statement.
“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 have a message for you: https://t.co/XtL5AWuY4n pic.twitter.com/LGK4Xnihoq
— Nico Rosberg (@nico_rosberg) December 2, 2016
We said we'd be champions back then, now we both are! Congratulations Nico, you did everything a champion needed to do. Well deserved 🙌🏾 pic.twitter.com/CIFPw1K2Fq
— Lewis Hamilton (@LewisHamilton) November 30, 2016
His sudden departure leaves a vacancy that any driver on the grid would fight for, Mercedes being the most dominant team in the sport with 19 wins in 21 races this season.
They have won the drivers' and constructors' titles for the past three years in a row and will start next season, despite significant rule changes, as favourites again.
Rosberg paid tribute to his wife Vivian and Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff and said he knew before the race in Abu Dhabi it would be his final time in the car.
"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.
Wolff hailed a "brave move" and said it was "testament to the strength of his character".
"The clarity of his judgement meant I accepted his decision straight away when he told me," he added.
Wolff said Mercedes would take time to evaluate their options.
Bernie Ecclestone says he was shocked with Rosberg’s decision.
"It was just as big a shock to me as you," he said.
"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" - Ecclestone said he would like to see Spaniard Fernando Alonso replace Rosberg alongside Lewis Hamilton.
The double world champion is contracted to McLaren for next season, although given that team's poor performances in recent seasons he could well be scanning his contract for escape clauses.
