It does seem weird on the face of it but it's possible he's just had enough of modern F1, and is genuinely sick of working with Hamilton. He's a World Champ now and obviously feels he's achieved his goal.
F1 2017 Season
- Thread starter pauldyson1uk
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Yeah I guess when you achieve something like that it changes you, some think "great, let's have another" and others think "I've done it, I'm done".
Motivation is a big factor at the highest level.
Motivation is a big factor at the highest level.
Agreed, since they'd end up 2nd best most of the time.
at coward Rosberg. What a crap champion. Winners defend their titles.
I disagree. Rosberg, to be fair to him, has always been very complimentary of Hamilton, calling him, one of the greatest drivers ever. Point is, he knows he is not as naturally quick as Lewis and to beat him in the DC this season has taken a monumental effort, especially from a psychological standpoint. With this in mind, knowing he has completely maxed out his talent and effort,he's unlikely to match this season.
He's got his family now, and when he says he's not prepared to make the sacrifices anymore, then kudos to him for having the courage to make that decision. Good luck to him.
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My jaw literally dropped when I read the news just now
Wow, would have liked him to stay on though
Wow, would have liked him to stay on though
Quite unexpected. He was driven this year and came out consistent to win championship. Would have been great to see him vs. Hamilton next year.
Too bad he'll never drive a car as a world champion.
I haven't been this shocked at a retirement since Eric retired.
It came out of the blue , nobody had the slightest idea he would do it, I think this is why everybody is so shocked
Just saw the news. 
I think his decision is a good one. Tough to maintain the drive to win, and he's an inferior driver and knows it. Plus, he's earned an absolute fortune, enjoy it with the family rather than make more at such a high risk.
I go with that. It's not like he has anything to prove now. He's achieved his life's dream and if he'd rather do something else, then good for him. I really respect him for making the decision and doing it on his own terms. Who knows, he may miss it and end up back some day...
I'm surprised he did it but I do understand why. There are question marks over his win and he knows it. He can attempt to defend his title and 'prove' everyone right as he will almost certainly get trounced by Hamilton and whoever else, or he can retire as a World Champion.
I doubt he will just hang up his boots though. Maybe he joins Webber at Porsche?
I doubt he will just hang up his boots though. Maybe he joins Webber at Porsche?
He won the title fair and square. There's always an element of luck (and question marks as you say) involved and Lewis didn't have much for sure, but he was also outperformed in a number of races by Nico too. He knows more often than not, in a straight fight with Lewis he'd come off 2nd best, but this season gone, he's beaten a driver who is already regarded as one of the finest there has been.
Agree with the sentiment here: he achieved what he dreamed of and knows it'd be difficult to repeat it so why not go out on a high?
Good luck to him.
Good luck to him.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/formula1/38187984
Hamilton giving a brief interview in regards to next years driver and what he expects from them etc.
The way Hamilton talks, you just know he is a difficult driver to have as a team mate.
Hamilton giving a brief interview in regards to next years driver and what he expects from them etc.
The way Hamilton talks, you just know he is a difficult driver to have as a team mate.
Webber left Porsche, retired last month.
He is just a very focused individual, most winners usually are.
You can see why not many people really like Hamilton.
he's such a wankergreat post
I think we have found the only true Hamilton fan in the world
Which is true, but on a personal level, he's probably the most unpleasent world champion to have around. For all of Schumachers antics, his teammates never complained and he always stood to them. Alonso is a bit tricky, but not as worse. Vettel had disagreements with Webber, but he was on good terms with his other teammates.
Which is true, but on a personal level, he's probably the most unpleasent world champion to have around. For all of Schumachers antics, his teammates never complained and he always stood to them. Alonso is a bit tricky, but not as worse. Vettel had disagreements with Webber, but he was on good terms with his other teammates.
I was very shocked at this news yesterday when I read. I can obviously understand his motivations, but it comes across a bit weak IMO. There was already an asterisk next to his WC win anyway. This doesn't nothing to help that.
In other words, he just wants a teammate who he can push around, that stays in the background and doesn't challenge him for the title.
Why? As I see it, he beat him fair and square, they both had their phased during the season.
Hamilton is gutted he won't get a chance to take the title back of him, Rosberg got the better of him and walked into the sunset. I have to say I respect his decision a lot, becoming F1 champion takes a serious commitment, and he wants to enjoy his family now
Why , he won it, was not his fault Lewis had problems, I blame Nico for the race they both crashed out of , but thats racing.
Think he should have stuck around to defend his title but I think he knew himself it would take a fair bit of luck to beat Lewis two seasons in a row. Just hoping they don't but someone like Botas in the second seat, Alonso or Vettel going up against Lewis would be epic.
Lewis was definitely the luckier driver between him and Massa in 2008.
There is always luck involved but Hamilton had already proven his worth by beating Alonso in the same car as a rookie the season before. Rosberg knows he is nowhere near the quickest drivers on the grid in an equal car.
I don't recollect much luck that season bar the final race. 1pt splitting the top 3 drivers the season before! And Hamilton scored just 2 points in the last 2 races. Those two seasons were superb.
That's just bollocks.
I'd forgotten about that. What caused it?
Massa's engine also blew when leading a race near the end and Kovalainen snapped up the win. He really did deserve to be champion that year.
Easy to forget that Massa binned it by himself in the first two races and had to be let past Kimi in both France and China, not to mention the embarrassments of Silverstone and Spa. Kubica was probably the best driver that year but Hamilton definitely drove better than Massa.
I didn't remember the details, but while reading about Massa ahead of his retirement, it was also mentioned that he payed a price for 'Crashgate' during that Singapore Grand Prix. So I went and read about it. Turns out he went into the pitlane for that bad stop right after Piquet Jr's 'accident', when the safety car was out. Without the crash, he wouldn't have been in there at the time and maybe the fuel hose incident would have been avoided.
Yep. Remind me what Hamilton's like when you go for a pint with him? I'm sure you know him well on a personal level
No one knows, all we know is the interviews and people talking to him as he is just coming out of the car.
Really? Barrichello thought he should of had 6 titles not 7 due to team orders.
Be interested in the F1 boys' opinions on this:
Please reply in the WEC thread:
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/wec-le-mans-2016.416324/page-3
Please reply in the WEC thread:
https://www.redcafe.net/threads/wec-le-mans-2016.416324/page-3
Any truth in the rumours that Bottas is the man going to replace Nico?
Toto manages him, right?
Toto manages him, right?
Saw Alonso being mentioned as well.