Hamilton has a ‘different viewpoint’ to Rosberg

Niki Lauda has slammed Nico Rosberg for making the Mercedes Formula One team “look dumb” following his decision to retire from the sport just days after winning his maiden title.

“Practically half of Formula One and maybe more”.

In an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport, he mentioned that there are three paths to take to find Rosberg’s replacement.

Vettel, the four-time world champion, who has just finished a disappointing campaign with Ferrari after he failed to record a victory, has been mooted as a mouth-watering candidate to replace his compatriot Rosberg at the German manufacturer.

“It’s a shame that he’s not around to fight to take it back”, Autosport quotes the Brit as having said.

“At first I didn’t believe him. The clarity of his judgement meant I accepted his decision straight away when he told me”. “Are you pulling my leg?”

The various jokes and Photoshop aside, Mercedes has a serious task on its hands.

Nico Rosberg was likewise the first German motorist to win the Formula One title with a German auto and team, and now becomes the very first champ to leave without defending the title since Frenchman Alain Prost in 1993.

The next season will be without three big names, as former world champion Jenson Button and Felipe Massa, also chose to put an end to their careers earlier this week.

“Hiring a youngster is a risk and we don’t know how strong he would be”, said the Austrian.

Of course, there are major Mercedes junior drivers in the form of Pascal Wehrlein (currently at Manor) or Esteban Ocon (set to join Force India next year).

Despite an often frosty and at times awkward relationship both on and off-track, Rosberg and Hamilton were in good spirits as they exchanged light-hearted quips towards one another on Saturday.

If a cockpit at the team that dominated the competition for the past three years became available, you’d naturally expect a string of applicants.

The Briton added that he hopes to have learnt some German by the time he retired. “I have achieved this childhood dream now, so I’m not willing to do more commitment”, said Rosberg in an official statement.

Despite the void Rosberg would leave, Lowe said the 31-year-old’s decision made “perfect sense”.