Rosberg quits Formula One

Nico Rosberg abruptly quit Formula One after winning his first world title, leaving motor racing stunned and Mercedes looking for a new teammate for Lewis Hamilton.
The 31-year-old German, who finally beat off Hamilton for the F1 title last Sunday, is the first reigning champion to retire since Alain Prost in 1993.
Rosberg made the bombshell revelation in Vienna ahead of the International Automobile Federation (FIA) annual awards ceremony.
“I have decided to end my Formula One career here,” said Rosberg, who finished second to Hamilton in Abu Dhabi to beat the Briton to the world drivers’ crown by five points.
Rosberg, who had previously given no indication that he was about to quit, said he made the decision in the aftermath of his championship triumph.
“I didn’t know if I had the balls and I took a bit of time,” he said.
“But I am done. End of story. And the next step is being a dad and a husband and I am very much looking forward to that.”
Hamilton, who was in go-karting with Rosberg when they were teenagers before their relationship soured at Mercedes, said he was not surprised.
“We started out when we were 13 and we’d always talked about being champions,” the Briton, who lost his world title to Rosberg, told autosport.com in Vienna.
“It’s going to be very, very strange and it will be sad not to have him in the team next year. The sport will miss him and I wish him all the best.”
Rosberg takes his leave of F1 with 23 race wins and 30 pole positions, relinquishing life in the fast lane to spend time with his wife, childhood sweetheart Vivian Sibold, with whom he has a daughter, Alaia, born in August last year.
Mercedes team boss, Toto Wolff, who now faces the task of finding a suitable successor to Rosberg, said: “For the team this is an unexpected situation and an exciting one.
“This is a brave decision by Nico and testament to the strength of his character.
“He has chosen to leave at the pinnacle of his career, as world champion, having achieved his childhood dream.”