579 replies to this topic

[Spillage]

Now he's retired, let's a reflect a little on Nico Rosberg's career. How do you rate him against champions of the past?

I admire him a lot. Clearly not the fastest driver in the world, but who has maximised their potential more than him? He rode his luck, won when he could and delivered under massive pressure in Abu Dhabi. His season was a masterclass in how to win a title - one second place all year and then the second he needs them - boom. Four second places in a row and a world title. Brilliantly methodical and calm under pressure.

Edit: ooops, somehow I put this in the wrong forum. Any kindly admin want to move it?

Edited by Spillage, 02 December 2016 - 15:14.

[noikeee]

Edit: ooops, somehow I put this in the wrong forum. Any kindly admin want to move it?

 

No problem, moved it to RC. 

[WilliamsF1Fan]

For this piece of skilful driving when leaving the pits 

 

 

Seriously though, I'll remember him as a very decent driver, often underrated but who was very deserving of his title.  

[SophieB]

I'm not sure I will remember him much at all.

[SenorSjon]

I'm not sure I will remember him much at all.

 

This!

 

I think he will be one of the forgotten WDC's in 10-20 years time. He hung around long enough to get a title with Mercedes (2010-2016). 

 

I only remember him for his over the top defending against teammates, yet let others by quite easy.

Edited by SenorSjon, 02 December 2016 - 15:24.

[lettuce]

I'm not sure I will remember him much at all.

 

you are a bundle of joy eh 

[PlayboyRacer]

He really does fly under the radar generally. A deserving World Champion, very good driver on his day... but he won't stick out in the memories of fans I wouldn't think.

In terms of being a racer in the true sense and his entertainment value... he's never rated highly. Personality...not one to get people talking.

Think that sums it up.

[WinstonSmith]

I'll remember Nico for the extraordinary lengths Mercedes-Benz went to in sabotaging Lewis Hamilton so he could 'win' the championship only for him to turn around and quit; knowing that he could never repeat his luck in 2016. Absolutely priceless.

Edited by WinstonSmith, 02 December 2016 - 15:30.

[P123]

Now he's retired, let's a reflect a little on Nico Rosberg's career. How do you rate him against champions of the past?

I admire him a lot. Clearly not the fastest driver in the world, but who has maximised their potential more than him? He rode his luck, won when he could and delivered under massive pressure in Abu Dhabi. His season was a masterclass in how to win a title - one second place all year and then the second he needs them - boom. Four second places in a row and a world title. Brilliantly methodical and calm under pressure.

Edit: ooops, somehow I put this in the wrong forum. Any kindly admin want to move it?

Very fast, consistent, worthy of his one championship. Might end up being known more for the manner of his retirement though, which would be a shame for a guy who spent a large part of his career with Schumacher and Hamilton as teammates.

[Nonesuch]

As the son of a rich guy who isn't even a real German and doesn't know what it's like to really want to win.

[sopa]

Huh, it is still so fresh, but to make a short overview.

 

Nico is (was?) a good driver, who had to wait for his opportunity. Spent plenty of years in midfield Williams and Mercedes and it always felt at that time he deserved more than he initially achieved. Even comparisons with Heidfeld, etc, arose. Took a while for him to get his first race win. So a bit like Webber, Button, Barrichello, etc, who all had to wait to get an opportunity in a true front-running car.

 

From 2013 onwards he finally started getting his chances and from 2014 onwards he hasn't just got top cars, but absolute rocketships, which have more than undone the 'lack of results' in his early part of his career. So many poles, race wins, etc. And finally a title to round off a career. He needed a bit luck, but his team-mate was also Hamilton. No easy feat to win against him!

 

Historically? In a recent "champions rankings" thread I put him into tier 4 out of 5. Many people thought he could be rated around 20th-25th out of 33 champions we have had. I think it makes sense. Not as good as some of the legends or even contemporary top drivers, but good enough to give them a run for their money. But not every champion can or should be a legend, you can simply be a very good driver for the accolade of being a champion as well.

 

So a gradual climb to the top, starting from midfield and ending up as a WDC. Pretty unique career, because usually drivers fall to lesser teams and do not achieve much at the end of their careers. And often drivers are "past-it" at the end of their careers. So it is sort of exceptional to see someone retiring literally on top of his game. Because usually drivers still want to go on as long as they feel they are competitive.

[Jon83]

A worthy champion who worked hard to achieve his dream. Fast, consistent and for me, extremely likeable.

 

His battles with Hamilton, however generally one sided the seemed to be at times, were the plus points of what is in my opinion a pretty dull period in F1.

[Jon83]

As the son of a rich guy who isn't even a real German and doesn't know what it's like to really want to win.

 

Eh!?
 

[Vesuvius]

As the son of a rich guy who isn't even a real German and doesn't know what it's like to really want to win.

Seemed to me he knew excatly what it was like to really want to win and after he won, there was nothing to achieve in f1 anymore.

[SR388]

Too soon for me to say. We are not in agreement on how we feel about his title.

I think he did a good job and his loyalty at Mercedes was rewarded.

[Marklar]

This sounds maybe harsh on the day of his retirement, but I will probably remember him as the shadow man of this era. This era had a lot great drivers, one of them was his team mate over four years, who outperformed him over the whole time and was in the end just once beaten by outside factors. So I will definetely not remember him as a Great of F1.

 

However, despite being this shadow man he is in the record books written down as the guy who beat with Schumacher and Hamilton Greats of this sport. And he impressed with resilience. Running Hamilton close over years is a huge achievement and he will be remembered for all this.

 

I'm pretty sure though that the way he retired will be remembered most which is a shame.

 

For this piece of skilful driving when leaving the pits 

 

Seriously though, I'll remember him as a very decent driver, often underrated but who was very deserving of his title.  

I hate him stil for this

[Vesuvius]

Nico was a team mate of the current fastest/best driver in F1 and he did extremely well against him, over one lap they were very close to each other, so he wasn't bad at all.

[santori]

A very good driver, an intelligent and decent person. He won't be as prominent in F1 history as Hamilton or Alonso in fifty years time, but so what? Even the most popular charioteers of Byzantium aren't household names today.

 

Edit: spelling

Edited by santori, 02 December 2016 - 20:03.

[WilliamsF1Fan]

 

I hate him stil for this

 

It definitely tarnished his time with Williams as far as I was concerned.  Couldn't believe it when I watched it 

[MinT]

On winning a title, true champions start thinking about how many more they can win.

A quitter, who deep down knows he needed the other guy to have a large amount of bad luck in order to win - sees it as the pinnacle of his career and so gives up.

[Rich]

I'll remember him as the driver who would have been played by Leonardo diCaprio in the movie. If there had ever been a movie.

 

Although, come to think of it, a movie about his heroic drive to avoid being overtaken at Abu Dhabi might reasonably be called "The Wall of Wolff Street".

Edited by Rich, 02 December 2016 - 15:46.

[maverick69]

Worked the room - then took his money and ran.

 

Fair play to him 

[Ellios]

I'll remember him as 2016 WDC & that he sacrificed the entire future of his F1 career to achieve his dream. Also that a lot of these drivers have the money to make these types of decisions that bit easier

[Crazy Canuck]

As the son of a rich guy who isn't even a real German and doesn't know what it's like to really want to win.

 

 

Wow, let us know how you really feel.

 

 

CC

[muramasa]

　

depends on what he'll do next....

 

　

new thread w/poll: 

 

"What will Nico Rosberg do next?"

 

- bored and come back in few years

- go to endurance racing

- go to university

- start new business

- start new racing team in junior formulae

- start "Nico Airways"

- be a driver manager

- start Rosberg Fund

- others

[topical]

We'll remember him till March next year, at best. A nice enough guy, but let's face it, his absence from the grid really won't make much difference in terms of top driving talent. I doubt many would put him in top 5 on the grid today.

[pdac]

I'll remember him as a good answer on the quiz show 'pointless'. Sadly (and I wish I didn't think this were the case), he will be forgotten in a few years time, except by those who actively follow F1 and its history.

 

I'm very please for him and his decision, though.

[Fonzey]

"that guy who retired 5days after maiden WDC win" I think.

He's certainly secured himself a memorable departure from the sport, so good on him.

Nothing he's done on track particularly stands out.

[KWSN - DSM]

World Champion.

 

[pdac]

　

depends on what he'll do next....

 

 

Actually, this is the real decider as to how he will be remembered.

[Dhillon]

As fast as Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher.

[sopa]

　

depends on what he'll do next....

 

　

new thread w/poll: 

 

"What will Nico Rosberg do next?"

 

- bored and come back in few years

- go to endurance racing

- go to university

- start new business

- start new racing team in junior formulae

- start "Nico Airways"

- be a driver manager

- start Rosberg Fund

- others

 

Become a pundit.

[Kristian]

He will be remembered as one of the most professional and un-controversial top drivers of recent times, maybe with a bit too much corporate image, but an all-round decent guy, a family man and with bags of talent. On the driving side, he will be remembered for: 

 

- Setting fastest lap in his first race in a Williams

- Was pretty much an equal with Mark Webber during his rookie season albeit behind on the few points they scored

- Beat his teammates - Wurz (2007), Nakajima (2008 & 2009 - obliterated), and none other than Michael Schumacher 2010-2012

- Scored the first win for Mercedes in 2012 before they were a force

- Was on a par with Lewis Hamilton in 2013, and kept up with him in 2014-2016, ultimately winning a deserved title before he retired.

 

Not a bad career at all, and history will remember him well. 

[MirNyet]

Political, dirty driver, snowflake, and one who was gifted a WDC by this team because they felt sorry for him.

[andrewf1]

Political, dirty driver, snowflake, and one who was gifted a WDC by this team because they felt sorry for him.

 

[Clrnc]

Why the hell did he retire? I am genuinely in shock. At first I thought it was a joke. 

 

Anyway, to answer TS, I will remember him fondly. From his Williams day where he shown so much potential, to beating Schumi in a Mercedes, to having memorable battles with Lewis. 

[Lights]

A quitter?

 

I don't even think he's that bad a driver, he was quite good this year if not for Lewis being a bit better.

But I'm not a supporter of the idea that sportsmen should quit at 'the height of their career' as some say.

I'm more thinking in the direction that professional sportsmen should strive for the most success until no longer possible.

And for Rosberg there was a lot more to achieve in F1, because it's possible he was not even at his best.

If you look at Button/Alonso, they keep saying how they keep learning, improving, becoming better drivers.

 

Of course it's his own right to quit and call it a day, but for me it still smells quitter who's not up for new challenges after achieving something big.

 

Schumacher went to Ferrari to build up a new team.

Alonso went to McLaren after 2 years of winning at Renault

Button went to the 'lion's den' of facing Hamilton at his McLaren

 

All these drivers tried to defend their titles, even at a different team.

 

Rosberg isn't brave enough to defend his title at all, not even while staying at Mercedes.

 

I do realize I sound bitter but I guess that's what I am.

Edited by Lights, 02 December 2016 - 16:59.

[Jordan44]

Why the hell did he retire? I am genuinely in shock. At first I thought it was a joke.

Anyway, to answer TS, I will remember him fondly. From his Williams day where he shown so much potential, to beating Schumi in a Mercedes, to having memorable battles with Lewis.

His reason for retiring I think boils down to the fact he recognises that he won't win another title in such manner with Lewis as his teammate.

His dream was always to be a world champion, nothing more. He now has a family to look after and the risk isn't worth it when he's achieved everything he needs to do.

Honestly I think he should have announced this during the season. Then his championship may have pulled a few more heart strings. I understand it may have been a distraction but it would have made the whole closing part of the season about him.

Edited by Jordan44, 02 December 2016 - 16:07.

[KavB]

A good driver who deserves his title but he, like Button, are drivers where I thought "if he will win the championship" one day rather than "when" he will win, like you think with Max and thought with Fernando, Lewis, Kimi and Seb.

 

I think he will be remembered as a very solid driver, but not one of the all time greats as I don't think he has many stand out spectacular drivers which made you go wow. He has some stats to be proud of which beats the majority of F1 champions, despite 99% of them being achieved in his final 3 seasons.

[Ickx]

Like a Jody Scheckter that didn't need a year to think about what he already knew. 

 

With some time something other than his retirement might be dominating, it is a bit early to think about how something that is still happening will be percived in years to come. 

[Hotwheels]

Just as we remember Button / Massa / Coulthad / Irvine - drivers who were always second to their team mates and lucked into championship winning or nearly winning seasons. 

[tearitup]

Slightly boring and tedious at times, but nonetheless a talented racer who got the most out of his career.

[Ickx]

[..]

But I'm not a supporter of the idea that sportsmen should quit at 'the height of their career' as some say.

I'm more thinking in the direction that professional sportsmen should strive for the most success until no longer possible.

[...]

 

I don't believe there is such a thing as "the right way to quit", now way is better than any other. I have tremendous respect for G Hill who kept at it long after his prime or the likes of Andretti and Fittipaldi driving everything with wheels years after years. 

 

That said, they should quit when they don't enjoy it any more. It takes too much work to not go in for it 100 % and there are enough contenders to let someone else have a go. 

[sennafan24]

I like the idea of a man walking away on his own terms, and at the pinnacle of his career. Anyway, very fast driver, untouchable on his day, and resilient. Not an elite level driver, but good enough to keep the best honest. 

 

Just as we remember Button / Massa / Coulthad / Irvine - drivers who were always second to their team mates and lucked into championship winning or nearly winning seasons. 

Rosberg and Button don't belong in the same sentence as Irvine and Massa. The differential in talent is vast.  Even D.C was a clear notch below both Nico and Button. 

[Nonesuch]

Wow, let us know how you really feel.

 

Was it too much of a paraphrase? We do all remember these gems, right?

 

"Nico has never actually been in Germany, so it is not really his home race."

"Nico grew up in Monaco with jets and hotels and boats and all these kind of things, so the hunger is different."

"He never stood by a German flag. He is German-Finnish-Monaco-esque, or whatever."

 

 

On a more serious note, Rosberg has done well with what the has. He did very well and made the most of the opportunities presented. Just as important: he made himself the man who Mercedes wanted to have in their car. They could have picked anyone and they picked him. It's not his fault that the other teams presented themselves as such amateurs. That he won his fair share of races against the man with the second most wins ever is good. It's not great, but he has little to regret.

[Lights]

Just as we remember Button / Massa / Coulthad / Irvine - drivers who were always second to their team mates and lucked into championship winning or nearly winning seasons. 

 

Button outscored every teammate since 2002 until Alonso. How exactly was he always second to his teammate? If he was, he wouldn't have been champion. He didn't win his title due to his teammate's reliability.

[Lights]

I don't believe there is such a thing as "the right way to quit", now way is better than any other. I have tremendous respect for G Hill who kept at it long after his prime or the likes of Andretti and Fittipaldi driving everything with wheels years after years. 

 

That said, they should quit when they don't enjoy it any more. It takes too much work to not go in for it 100 % and there are enough contenders to let someone else have a go. 

 

How could Rosberg know he doesn't enjoy it anymore, while winning the championship? It's hard to believe.

[Kristian]

Just as we remember Button / Massa / Coulthad / Irvine - drivers who were always second to their team mates and lucked into championship winning or nearly winning seasons. 

 

Second to their teammates? 

 

2006: Rosberg 4 points / Webber 7 points

2007: Rosberg 20 points / Wurz 13 points

2008: Rosberg 17 points / Nakajima 9 points

2009: Rosberg 34.5 points / Nakajima 0 points

2010: Rosberg 142 points / Schumacher 72 points

2011: Rosberg 89 points / Schumacher 76 points

2012: Rosberg 93 points / Schumacher 49 points

2013: Rosberg 171 points / Hamilton 189 points

2014: Rosberg 317 points / Hamilton 384 points (though technically 359 due to Abu Double)

2015: Rosberg 322 points / Hamilton 381 points

2016: Rosberg 385 points / Hamilton 380 points

 

Thus he scored marginally more than teammates who, between them, had scored 153 wins between them (Rosberg 1594.5 vs Teammates 1560, or 1535 if you ignore the Abu Dhabi 'free points') 

 

Now I'm not saying he's as talented as Hamitlon or Schumacher was in his pomp, but he's definitely earned his list in the second tier of champions - and your contention that he's one of the "drivers who were always second to their team mates" is just wrong. 

Edited by Kristian, 02 December 2016 - 16:23.

[Dick Dastardly]

He's a worthy WDC, he beat one of the best out there to achieve that ambition when others may have buckled under [as he did post Spa 2014]. He was outclassed in 2015 but knuckled down and had the mental fortitude to bounce back from losing the past 2 years and made the most of the opportunities when they arose. He's achieved his ambition, doesn't know what the next generation of cars are like, Mercedes may be mid-field, so isn't prepared to hang around to find out. Plus with the likes of Verstappen looking ever racier, probably realised this is his only WDC, so like others before him has quit whilst on top.... 

[KavB]

How could Rosberg know he doesn't enjoy it anymore, while winning the championship? It's hard to believe.

He didn't enjoy the intensity of fighting for the championship and wasn't keen to do it again. He is content being a single world champion because it doesn't matter if you have 1 or 7, you are still a world champion and that is all that matters to him.

 

Hakkinen found his championship challenges too stressful as well if I recall.