Formula 1 2016

longers · December 5, 2016

Lauda:

"What annoys me the most is that now Nico is telling us that he would have continued had he not won the world championship. This is something he could have at least hinted at when he signed his [new 2-year] contract. In this case, we could have prepared a Plan B – we would have had to in order to be ready. But it is as it is.

We all gave him the opportunity to become world champion in a fantastic car - and then he tells us he wants to retire. This has created a huge hole in this great working team. And we're left looking dumb.

I definitely wanted to defend my title. It was a challenge to have #1 on the car and to beat the opposition again. In fact it was the most important thing to defend the title. You only wanted to be champion to do that. Nico chose to go down a different path, he always wanted to. The problem is he never gave any signs that these were his plans. This is why it took us by surprise."

Philw · December 5, 2016

longers said:
Lauda:

"What annoys me the most is that now Nico is telling us that he would have continued had he not won the world championship. This is something he could have at least hinted at when he signed his [new 2-year] contract. In this case, we could have prepared a Plan B – we would have had to in order to be ready. But it is as it is.

We all gave him the opportunity to become world champion in a fantastic car - and then he tells us he wants to retire. This has created a huge hole in this great working team. And we're left looking dumb.

I definitely wanted to defend my title. It was a challenge to have #1 on the car and to beat the opposition again. In fact it was the most important thing to defend the title. You only wanted to be champion to do that. Nico chose to go down a different path, he always wanted to. The problem is he never gave any signs that these were his plans. This is why it took us by surprise."

I see all the media are calling him 'brave' and 'classy'. If anything it's cowardly: he's won the title due to his (superior) rival having mechanical issues and a series of dodgy starts, and now he's running away without defending his Championship. And classy? Was he classy at Monaco in 2014? Or when he hit Lewis at Belgium later that year, or pushed him off the track Spain this year?

Good to see someone taking the other side of the argument!

arminisgod · December 5, 2016

How is it cowardly? He has achieved the plu thing he dreamt off and now wants to be a full time husband and dad whilst young and un harmes

Philw · December 5, 2016

arminisgod said:
How is it cowardly? He has achieved the plu thing he dreamt off and now wants to be a full time husband and dad whilst young and un harmes

Read my post/see below. And I didn't say it was, just that it's more that than it is brave.

Philw said:
now he's running away without defending his Championship.

evilwebby · December 5, 2016

Rosberg doesn't owe anyone a shot at taking the title off him next year. If he wants to retire then its his right to do so on his own term - I personally couldn't be happier for him as he's obviously fulfilled a lifetime's ambition. Having had two of the all time greats as team-mate for the last 7 years, he bested Schumacher entirely during their time together, and pipped Hamilton at his peak - he's got nothing left to prove, and I think history will remember him very favourably.