As an F1 driver, Nico Rosberg hung up his boots when he was only 30 years old. It’s adorable to think that Fernando Alonso, Kimi Raikkonen, and even his bitterest rival Lewis Hamilton are all older than him. Since he retired in 2016, it’s easy to imagine that he might have been tempted to return. What about a mammoth offer from a respected team like Ferrari?
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Surely a 50 million euro salary package would be enough motivation for him to get back behind the cockpit? It would be for 90% of the drivers, but Nico is not part of the herd.
“The salary never played a role for me. I still had a two-year contract that also contained a lot of zeros, “Rosberg replied to this hypothetical offer in an exclusive interview with Formula 1. (Quotes from German translated with Google)
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Formula 1 F1 – Emilia Romagna Grand Prix – Autodromo Enzo and Dino Ferrari, Imola, Italy – Ferraris Charles Leclerc in action during the REUTERS / Guglielmo Mangiapane qualifying
He added, “You can’t move me with money. I’m not interested. I fulfilled my career as I imagined it would be, with the world title, and I’m excited about my next life. So the thought never came up and never will. It’s over.”
Rosberg shocked the F1 community after retiring on December 2, 2016 in Vienna. It was especially surprising as it only took a few days for him to seal his first F1 title. He was finally able to overwhelm his childhood friend, Lewis Hamilton.
Was Nico Rosberg really realistic for Ferrari?
The German’s contractual obligation tied him to Mercedes at least until the end of the 2018 season. Therefore, from the 2019 season he could only listen to offers from other teams such as Ferrari. But would they have taken a step for him?
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At that point, they were looking for a replacement for Kimi Raikkonen. And they promoted their academy driver Charles Leclerc. We don’t really think Rosberg would have chosen him as a partner for Vettel.
SHANGHAI, CHINA – APRIL 10: Nico Rosberg of Germany and Mercedes GP speaks with Mercedes GP Executive Director Toto Wolff during practice for the Formula 1 Grand Prix of China at Shanghai International Circuit on April 10, 2015 in Shanghai, China . (Photo by Mark Thompson / Getty Images)
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Though even from a personal standpoint, Rosberg may not have returned to F1 “because I closed it completely”. Obviously he has made good progress as his business activities and sustainability projects are doing so well right now. May this be a long time.
The post Blockbuster Ferrari deal would not have lured me into the F1 return: Nico Rosberg first appeared on monter-une-startup.
