Rosberg stuns Formula One with retirement bombshell

Champ expresses deep gratitude

LONDON, Dec 2, (RTRS): Nico Rosberg stunned Formula One on Friday with the shock announcement that he was retiring only days after achieving his lifetime ambition by winning his first world championship with Mercedes.

“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.

“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 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.

Rosberg was also the first German driver to win the Formula One championship in a German car.

“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,” he said.

“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.”

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.

Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff hailed a “brave move” and said it was “testament to the strength of his character”. close. “We have a great group of veterans who have been there and done this before so it keeps us all under control,” Prescott said.

Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant finished with 84 receiving yards on four catches including a fourth quarter touchdown while running back Ezekiel Elliott was bottled up for most of the night but did manage a 30-yard run in the fourth that set up a 39-yard field goal by kicker Dan Bailey.

For Bryant it was his 65th career touchdown, tying him for second in franchise history with Michael Irvin.

“I knew coming into this game it was going to be a tough match and I had to be on my ‘A’ game,” Bryant said. “Because if I wasn’t, he can get the best of you.”

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This file photo taken on March 16, 2014 shows Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg of Germany shouting in celebration on the podium after winning the Formula One Australian Grand Prix in Melbourne on March 16, 2014. Nico Rosberg announced on Dec 2 shock retirement days after

winning Formula One title. (AFP)