Lewis Hamilton reacts to Nico Rosberg’s Shock retirement from Formula One

But despite winning three times in his opening campaign, he was warned by team boss Maurizio Arrivabene earlier this year that he would have to earn his next deal with the Italian team. However, at the beginning of December many drivers are already locked into contracts for next season, especially top the top names.

Wehrlein, a Mercedes junior driver and 2016 Manor F1 racer, has been linked to the drive.

“It’s a shame that he’s not around to fight to take it back”, said three-times champion Hamilton.

Who are the possible candidates for Rosberg’s cockpit?

However, it is unlikely that McLaren would be prepared to release the double former champion.

The German promptly retired and now Mercedes have the unenviable task of filling a seat vacated by a world champion.

It was business as usual for Mercedes as they won the next 10 races with Hamilton winning six and Rosberg winning four before Red Bull could win their second race this season at the Malaysian GP with Australian driver Daniel Ricciardo.

“I don’t know what is their plan”, he said of Mercedes.

“Yeah, definitely”, he said when asked if he saw an opportunity.

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.

The 19-year-old Dutchman is widely seen as the heir to Hamilton’s F1 throne, and is highly rated by Mercedes management. “It is something we would never have imagined, but in the same way, it really causes admiration within me”. Rosberg added that his only regret was putting his team in a hard situation.

Like Vettel, Alonso’s contract expires at the end of the 2018 campaign.

While Rosberg’s announcement came as a shock to F1 fans, his friend and fierce rival Hamilton was unfazed by the news. “I have chose to follow my heart”.

The German Mercedes driver, the son of Finnish 1982 Formula One world champion Keke Rosberg, announced his decision to end his career via Facebook, before holding a press conference in the Austrian capital, Vienna. He took the championship from Hamilton by five points.