ABU DHABI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES – NOVEMBER 27: Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP celebrates with his wife Vivian Sibold and his team after finishing second and securing the F1 World Drivers Championship at the Abu Dhabi Formula One Grand Prix at Yas Marina Circuit on November 27, 2016 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)

Nico Rosberg knows how to go out on a high note. Five days after winning the 2016 Formula One World Driver’s Championship, the race car driver is calling it a career.

Rosberg unseated Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in 2016, beating him in Sunday’s Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, to win Formula One’s greatest prize. But instead of continuing to fight for multiple championships in future seasons, the 31-year-old German racer announced he was retiring from the sport, effective immediately.

“For me, it is a very special day to receive the trophy. This evening is going to be amazing but for another reason: I want to take the opportunity to announce the end of my F1 career,” Rosberg told MotorSport.com.

Having achieved what he called his childhood dream, Rosberg admitted he’s unwilling to continue the commitment of racing and wants to move on to “other things” in his life. He said the decision felt right, but that it was difficult to leave the Mercedes team, with whom he was signed until 2018.

“For me, personally, [the decision] is not that difficult, it feels right,” Rosberg said.

“The only thing that makes it [difficult], I am putting my racing family into a challenging situation and that is the hardest part for me.”

Rosberg accomplished his ultimate racing goal and decided there was nothing left for him to achieve. After more than a decade in the sport, it’s a surprising, yet understandable decision. How many would continue if for no other reason than the money, let alone love of the sport. But motivation and striving for more is a key to maintaining success. So if Rosberg feels he has nothing left to accomplish and indeed has other ambitions, he’s put himself in a great position to do so.

Instead of dragging on his career, he’s giving other racers the chance to claim the title. Mercedes now has a much-coveted seat open following Rosberg’s retirement. It’s going to be tremendously difficult to find a replacement worthy of his spot.

[MotorSport]

About Liam McGuire

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