Nico Rosberg finally beat Lewis Hamilton to claim the 2016 F1 world championship. The German had finally beaten his old friend to claim the glory in equal machinery. But less than a week after achieving this in Abu Dhabi, Rosberg announced his retirement from the sport at the age of just 31 .
The friends turned rivals had been locking horns for three seasons straight by 2016. This naturally had a big impact on their relationship. Mercedes let them race, mainly because they were far ahead of any other cars on the track. Hamilton had usually come out on top. But it changed in 2016, when Rosberg finally managed to conquer the sport.
But what made him want to retire right after achieving the world title?
Rosberg explained his decision while announcing it via his social media in 2016. The world champion said:
“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.” he added.
So Rosberg simply wanted to leave when he was at the top. The German also explained that his family were part of the reason why he wanted to leave as well. He expressed that an intense time battling Hamilton on track also took a toll on his personal life.
Nico Rosberg later claimed that 2016 “felt like a great moment to step away”
Speaking more recently in 2021, Rosberg explained that he decided to retire right after he crossed the finish line on the final lap in 2016 at Abu Dhabi. The German did not want to continue living under the constant pressure and intensity anymore.
“Two meters after the line in Abu Dhabi. If you ask me, ‘When did you decide to retire?’ That was the moment. I had given it everything. It was a question of do I want to continue to deliver and live in that intensity?” [via square mile]
“And with my dream having come true – I’d fulfilled my goal of being world champion – it just felt like a great moment to step away and have a new life, with different benefits.” he added.
Rosberg had achieved what he set out to. He was an F1 world champion. He had also finally beaten Lewis Hamilton to the championship. There was nothing for him to prove to himself or anyone else anymore.
Competing at the highest level in F1 clearly takes a mental toll as well. And the Rosberg-Hamilton rivalry was constant and non-stop. The German driver decided to leave this behind and start a new chapter in his life a little earlier than usual, going out at his peak.
