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Formula 1

Nico Rosberg retires from Formula 1

Formula 1 world champion Nico Rosberg on Friday announced his retirement from the sport with immediate effect. The 31-year-old German won his first world title on Sunday when he finished second in the final race of the season at Abu Dhabi.

Nico Rosberg said he wanted to spend more time with his family after a difficult 2016 season pursuing the world title.
Nico Rosberg said he wanted to spend more time with his family after a difficult 2016 season pursuing the world title. Reuters/Leonhard Foeger
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His Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton won the Grand Prix to finish second in the drivers' championship.

"I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right," Rosberg said after 11 years on the circuit.

"For 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my 'one thing' to become Formula 1 world champion," he added. "Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. And now I've made it."

Rosberg was anointed champion 34 years after his father, Keke, claimed the crown.

Rosberg fils made his Formula 1 debut for Williams at the Bahrain Grand Prix in 2006, finishing seventh.

He announced his retirement in Vienna as the Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff stood nearby.

Wolff said he had been surprised by the move adding: "This is a brave decision by Nico and a testament to the strength of his character. The clarity of his judgement meant I accepted his decision straight away when he told me."

Former Formula 1 racer Juan Pablo Montoya, who started 94 grands prix and gained seven victories, also called Rosberg's decision brave.

Rosberg, who says he wants to spend more time with his family, paid tribute to his wife Vivian.

"This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough," he said. "I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two years. They fuelled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before.

"And of course that had an impact on the ones I love, too – it was a whole family effort of sacrifice, putting everything behind our target. I cannot find enough words to thank  Vivian; She has been incredible.

"She understood this year was the big one, our opportunity to do it, and created the space for me to get full recovery between every race, looking after our daughter each night, taking over when things got tough and putting our championship first."

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