Rosberg bids farewell to F-1 track

VIENNA: Newly-crowned Formula One champion Nico Rosberg on Friday retired from racing with immediate effect in a shocking announcement, just five days after winning his maiden title.

Rosberg stunned all while revealing his decision and said he isn’t willing to put himself through the wringer, choosing not to make sacrifices again after achieving his long cherished dream.

Rosberg made the announcement at a Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA) press conference where he received the trophy for becoming the world champion. He then wrote a lengthy farewell speech on Facebook. Rosberg beat off a strong challenge from his team-mate and fierce rival Britain’s Lewis Hamilton to win the F1 title despite finishing second in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix on Sunday.

“For me it is a very special day to receive the trophy this evening. It is going to be amazing but for another reason: I want to take the opportunity to announce to end F1 career,” Rosberg was cited as saying by motorsport.com.

“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,” he wrote on Facebook.

The German said his desire to spend more time with his family is one of the reasons behind his sudden decision.”

“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,” he continued.

“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 our championship first.”. IANS