In reflection, it was fitting that Nico Rosberg should see the sun set on his Formula One career after winning the ultimate prize at twilight in Abu Dhabi.
The German was as much a part of Mercedes’ rise to success as anyone even if he has always seemingly been the other guy at the team alongside Michael Schumacher or Lewis Hamilton.
Over the past three years, he has taken a lot of disappointment on the chin but, through it all, he continued to plug away and improve. This year, along with a little bit of luck, he was finally the guy on whom the spotlight shined brightest, reaching the ‘peak’ as he put it.
No-one thought his championship win but then result in him retiring, but now that he’s announced it, it makes a lot of sense.
We all know Rosberg is a private, family man, the celebrations at Yas Marina were the first time we have seen his wife Vivian, young daughter and even Keke appear publicly.
Nico doesn’t want to dominate the spotlight in the way Hamilton does, it’s one of the reasons there were questions over what he as champion would mean for F1.
So for him to achieve what he wanted and decide that was it is completely in the Rosberg character.
What it does do, however, is leave a lot of questions unanswered, albeit questions that the German probably doesn’t care about as he prepares for a normal(ish) life.
Did he think 2016 was his only chance?
Having missed out on the title to Hamilton for two consecutive years, Rosberg admits he really started thinking about his future and the championship after Suzuka when the “destiny of the title was in my own hands” as he said in his statement.
With Mercedes’ stranglehold on the top spot expected to loosen in 2017 and the likelihood of Hamilton coming back stronger from this year’s disappointment, did Rosberg think there was little point in trying to retain his title?
Did he really think he could beat Hamilton?
By putting such emphasis on achieving his goal in 2016 yet only really believing in it late on, it makes you wonder just how much Nico believed he could actually beat Lewis.
He had been ahead for much of the season yet did see a large lead evaporate over the summer but to only wait until he could control his own fate does suggest a sense of Rosberg expecting Hamilton to eventually prevail.
Would he have retired either way?
In his retirement message, Rosberg spoke about the huge stress the situation put not just on him but the entire family and how Vivian had allowed him to put 100% focus into his task at hand.
Given the pressure of those final races and the fact Rosberg had already approached Abu Dhabi thinking it was his last race, would he have at least gone on a sabbatical regardless of the outcome?
What next for Lewis?
Before Rosberg won the title there was much speculation as to what losing would do to Hamilton’s psyche in 2017.
Then after his questionable tactics in Abu Dhabi, some thought, and still do, that if Mercedes did punish him for his actions would he simply up tools and leave?
Now, though, Toto Wolff and Co. have to keep him happy at the team, especially if they decide to promote Pascal Wehrlein.
Without Rosberg on the grid, however, does that take away the constant reminder of 2016 and allow Hamilton to flourish once again?
What is Rosberg’s legacy?
A whole article could probably be devoted to this but after some initial thinking it is very hard to nail down.
He will always be known as a thinking man’s champion who mastered an era of F1 where strategy and an ability to look after your car won over outright speed.
He won’t be the fastest or the most gifted champion ever but he was a driver who knew his strengths and maximised them.
In many ways, deciding to quit now at the top makes deciding exactly where he will go down in history even harder.
Based on the 10 seasons before he was quick but never spectacular and despite ending 2016 as champion that view point is hard to change. He had an opportunity to achieve his dream and he took it, now Nico Rosberg is walking away.
As worthy as he is of the title, that’s not exactly a champion’s mentality. So congratulations Nico and enjoy your life where ever it now leads you but don’t expect to be mentioned in the conversation of all-time great anytime soon, that honour belongs to Lewis.
