Rosberg retires from F1
 

http://www.skysports.com/f1/news/124...d-championship

Well, that's a pretty surprising decision. I guess he's got enough cash in the bank to give it up and enjoy life with his family now.

Certainly leaves a good seat available for next year though. Merc were always looking to Wehrlein to be their next big star in F1 but expect they were thinking a few years down the line rather than now. He hasn't showed that well against Ocon so the door could be open to some contract shuffles up and down the grid.

Alonso trying to get out of McLaren? He's only got a couple of seasons left at most and has always wanted a crack at another title.
Vettel has been pretty unhappy at Ferrari this year, and gets on well enough with Lewis...

Or someone else? Carlos Sainz Jr is pretty well rated.... doubt either Ricciardo or Verstappen would contemplate the move considering the rule changes and the high probability that Adrian Newey will pull a blinder again...

Nico knows he only won by a fluke this year so probably wouldn't be able to repeat it. I think you're right about the younger drivers, but for me the solution is obvious.

JB!

Hahah! JB alongside Lewis again would be amazing for the British fans (and a PR perspective for Mercedes) but I can't see it happening. JB just looked tired over the latter half of the season, depends whether being in a race winning car would motivate him enough to keep going!

I'm waiting on the phone call :D

but seriously.
Max.. gets my vote that would make for some fireworks next season :P

Fair play to Nico for hanging it up.. he's got to the top.. hes been more consistent this year than Lewis. (forgetting the "incidents" and the reliability issues that Lewis had.. how many start line balls up's did we watch him make?)
And he's got pots of money and a young family.. I think he is wise.

Agreed gets my vote too.

With regard to waiting for the call Dave you are to:oldman::kicknuts::whistle:

:hurrah:

I didn't see that coming. Don't blame him though, as was said before, young family, pots of dosh and I think next season it would be hard for him to repeat it. Whilst F1 is about consistency and reliability, Lewis is still the quicker driver (though I was actually pleased Rosberg won it this year).

I think any one of six (Hamilton, Verstappen, Vettel, Ricciardo, Raikkonen or Alonso in the right car) are well capable of winning if it goes their way and the cars perform with the new reg's. You've got to fancy a return for Red Bull I would think.

He's gone down in my estimation.

Given the doubt over whether he's really got what it takes, i.e. he has failed to prove he can beat the best in a straight fight, this feels very cowardly to me and lacks pride.

If it was me, I'd want to prove the doubters wrong, then retire. That's a much stronger character in my book. This makes him look weak and casts even more doubt over his abilities in my opinion. It virtually guarantees his page in the F1 history book will always have a footnote about the circumstances. I would not be able to tolerate that.

Mind you, if he knows he hasn't got it in him, then why prove that by continuing!

This made me chuckle...

https://scontent-lhr3-1.xx.fbcdn.net...1d&oe=58B74E33

Hahah great pic. I agree with you too, Rosberg got lucky this year and I think he's decided to run and hide rather than get comprehensively beaten next year (proving he was lucky to win the championship).

I can't see Red Bull letting either of their top two drivers go, they're both world class in my view and young enough to have a big impact on the sport if the car is fast enough. And I suspect it will be next year....

Just maybe the commitment to the 'cause' and his desire to become more involved in his relatively young family means more than the farce that F1 has become........

Hats off to him IMO he's obviously not short of $$, be nice to have retired at 31

I bet F1 drivers have more spare time than you or me!

I dont watch it anymore but i would put my money on kimi hes a legend just the way he is weather its on or off the track .

Not to surprised, even this season his heart didn't really seem to be in it. I only watch F1 to see Max drive.