“From the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became world champion,” he wrote in a post on his Facebook page announcing his departure. Rosberg said he first started thinking about retiring when he won the Japanese Grand Prix in early October and realised the title was within his grasp. He signed a new contract with Mercedes for 2017 in the summer, worth £18.3m. Rosberg, who claimed his maiden title in the deciding race in Abu Dhabi on Sunday, made his sensational revelation at a press conference in Vienna, saying that the championship had always been his dream and, having clinched it, he would walk away. Maybe he’s fed up being there and they’re fed up having him.” But a shocked Mercedes said they would not rush into making an appointment. “They’ve got new management now at McLaren. “It’s possible I suppose, let’s see,” he said. The watertightness of Alonso’s contract at McLaren is the subject of some conjecture and F1’s chief executive, Bernie Ecclestone, says the Spaniard would be his choice. Wehrlein has deputised for both Hamilton and Rosberg in testing. Instead, Mercedes could make a short-term fix and opt for another German, Pascal Wehrlein, 22, a member of the team’s young driver programme. Fernando Alonso (McLaren), Sebastian Vettel (Ferrari) and Max Verstappen and Daniel Ricciardo (both Red Bull) would be obvious targets, but all are contracted to their respective teams for 2017. Interest will now focus on the driver Mercedes will choose to replace the world champion. He’s also got a family to focus on, and wants more children, and Formula One takes so much of your time. This is the first time he’s won a title in 18 years, hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop. The British driver said: “I’m probably one of the only people that it was not a surprise to.

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