Nico Rosberg retires five days after winning Formula One title

Rosberg stunned with the motorsport world with the shock news ahead of last night’s Friday’s FIA Prize Giving Gala in Vienna, where he was awarded the perpetual World Drivers’ Championship trophy. Now, finally thrust into the spotlight of glory, it is nearly as if he could not stand the glare.

BBC Sport revealed that Rosberg’s wait for a maiden title was the second longest in history, behind only Nigel Mansell’s 12-year wait. His achievement, though, is monumental.

Rosberg’s career is well noted for his intense rivalry with fellow Mercedes driver Hamilton.

He will leave Formula-1 after winning 23 of the 206 races he competed in, 9 of which he won this year.

For Germans, Michael Schumacher was always the great racing hero.

He becomes the first driver since Alain Prost in 1993 to retire as the reigning champion.

The 31-year-old speaks French, Italian, German, English and Spanish fluently.

The introverted image is a little misleading.

“I was very surprised, as I’m sure everyone is, but Nico has demonstrated across the year that he is extremely courageous”, the Frenchman said. “He has jokes and he is teasing all the time”.

“Practically half of Formula One and maybe more”.

His gentle manner also belied an essential toughness.

Another Briton to win the world title, Nigel Mansell, praised Rosberg but questioned what it would mean for his team of Mercedes.

All of the top drivers are under contract, but that is mere bureaucracy in a sport where money talks and ambition rules.

There was also a keen intelligence.

Rosberg, who had moments earlier started a rendition of Queen’s “We are the Champions” to the delight of his cheering audience, told the Brit: “If you’re looking for a German teacher, call me up as I’m looking for a job!”

2005: Offered a place on the aeronautical engineering course at Imperial College London. “Everything relates to physics and maths”, he once said. They came up through the karting circuits to became fierce rivals in F1, constantly needling each other in the media. Before joining IndyCar in 2010, Sato made 90 career starts in Formula One. They dueled for the championship for the past three years.

Mercedes 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. That dropped Rosberg directly into the line of fire from Sebastian Vettel and Max Verstappen, making the possibility for him to finish off of the podium a lot more likely than it probably should have been.

Despite the fueds in recent years, Hamilton said that Rosberg would be missed by him and the sport. They got on well at first but then a series of clashes soured the relationship.

Having shown plenty of commitment and mental strength during his years behind the wheel, Rosberg Snr was quick to praise the same qualities in his son after he clinched the title last weekend.

Rosberg might think he is going out in style but, compared to Spitz, it is a mere whimper.

Wins for Rosberg followed in Belgium and Italy which moved the German back into the championship lead.