Search for Rosberg’s successor starts now

LEWIS HAMILTON’S Mercedes team will begin their search for his new team-mate romorrow after Nico Rosberg sensationally announced he is quitting Formula One.

Rosberg (right), who was crowned the sport’s new champion only a week ago in Abu Dhabi, stunned the sporting world on Friday after revealing he is to retire with immediate effect.

The 31-year-old German initially informed only a handful of people – including his great rival Hamilton – before telling the world of his decision ahead of the FIA’s annual prize-giving ceremony in Vienna.

Rosberg’s jaw-dropping move leaves Mercedes, the sport’s all-conquering team who have won 51 of the last 59 races, with a vacancy for 2017.

At this stage, it is unclear who Mercedes will choose to partner Hamilton, although they insist they are in no rush to reach a decision.

Sebastian Vettel, the four-time champion of Ferrari and McLaren’s double world champion Fernando Alonso have been mooted as mouth-watering candidates, but both drivers are under contract with their respective teams next season.

Pascal Wehrlein, a protege of the Mercedes junior driver programme, and Valtteri Bottas of Williams are also in the frame.

“Now we have to consider all options, but it will be very hard to replace him,” Mercedes boss Toto Wolff said. “We will start to look at this on Monday.

“For the team, this is an unexpected situation but also an exciting one. We are going into a new era of technical regulations and there is a free Mercedes cockpit for the seasons ahead. We will take the necessary time to evaluate our options and then find the right path for our future.” Swanswater and the Meadow Pond ice free and open for fishing. Charlie McNeill from Edinburgh took three for 14lb 10oz (including a 9lb 5oz rainbow), Ian Whitelaw (Dunipace) five for 18lb including one at 5lb, Stan Franklin (Alloa) five for 17lbs12oz including three golds.

Tam Kennedy (Alloa) took five for 15lb 4oz and Robert Anderson from Glenrothes bagged five for 13lb 12oz from the Millpond while returning a further seven.