Nico Rosberg defends decision to quit F1, rejects comeback talk
Nico Rosberg has hit back at his former boss Niki Lauda, following criticism of his sudden decision to quit Mercedes and Formula One.
Lauda, the F1 legend and Mercedes team chairman, said Rosberg made the outfit look "stupid" by leaving it with a top driver to replace in December.
But Rosberg told the German newspaper Die Zeit: "I don't understand what Niki was riding when he said that. He must have misunderstood something.
"If it had only been up to me, I would rather have waited until Christmas to announce my retirement, but I didn't want to do that to the team," he added.
Rosberg said there is little room for pure selfishness in F1, "but my life belongs to me."
So Rosberg defended his decision to quit as champion, insisting that if he had failed to achieve his career dream this year, he would have tried again in 2017.
"It was strange," he said. "The thought of quitting was motivating. At the same time, I couldn't think about it too much, otherwise I would lose focus."
But he did reveal the extent of the stress he was under as he fought for the title this year, saying that "because of the pressure," he struggled even to sleep.
Referring to his battles since 2014 with Hamilton, Rosberg told Sport Bild: "Fighting Lewis in the same car and losing twice was horrible -- disgusting.
"I had to fight back again and again. Beating him is just exhausting. It sucks a lot out of you physically but most of all mentally.
"I did mental training, started to meditate. In Japan, I met a Zen master before the race. I raised everything to the next level.
"Last winter, I bought two go-karts and drove, drove, drove -- as much as when I was 14 and fought for the karting world championship. And I analyzed why Lewis beat me so often in fights and realized I had to take more risks.
"Now I have reached my goal. Sure, I could have gone on, trying to defend the title. But why?
"It's easy to want more, more, more, but you also have to be careful and not lose yourself as a person. For me there is nothing more than this title. I wanted it and I got it.
"I feel as though I have climbed Mount Everest, I'm standing on the top and no peak that I see is higher."
Nico Rosberg has also hit back at claims he might return to Formula One after a few years of retirement.
F1 legend and family friend Gerhard Berger, who earlier this year negotiated Rosberg's new 2017 and 2018 Mercedes contract, said he can imagine the 31-year-old getting "bored" and returning.
Another former F1 driver, Stefan Johansson, said he can also imagine a Michael Schumacher or Kimi Raikkonen-like return for Rosberg.
"No," Rosberg insisted. "It's definitely over.
"My decision is irrevocable. It's a closed chapter for me."
Asked if he will miss Formula One, where he has raced full-time for the past 11 years, Rosberg admitted: "Miss, yes. But comeback, no.
"Perhaps I will have some other role in Formula One, because for me it's the best sport in the world. But now I am a father and husband," he told Sport Bild. "I have seen far too little of my family this year.
"We are going to do a long vacation and then in a few months I'll think about some new projects."
