LONDON: World champion Nico Rosberg’s retirement announcement yesterday came as a complete surprise even to the man who knows most of Formula One’s best-kept secrets, commercial supremo Bernie Ecclestone.
“It was just as big a shock to me as you,” he told Reuters by telephone after Rosberg dropped the bombshell days after securing his first championship in last Sunday’s Abu Dhabi season-ender.
“I had dinner with (Mercedes team boss) Toto (Wolff) last night and he obviously couldn’t say anything to me (about it).”
While making light of the German driver’s decision - “He needs more time to spend his money, that’s all” - Ecclestone said he would like to see Spaniard Fernando Alonso replace Rosberg alongside Lewis Hamilton.
The double world champion is contracted to McLaren for next season, although given that team’s poor performances in recent seasons he could well be scanning his contract for escape clauses.
Sprint king Usain Bolt also expressed his surprise at Rosberg’s shock decision.
Bolt, who has amassed 20 Olympic and world titles in a sparkling career, is himself due to retire next season at the age of 31, having competed at one last world championships in August in London.
But the Jamaican was left as stunned as the world of motor racing by news of Rosberg, who became the first reigning champion to quit since Alain Prost in 1993.
“No, I can’t understand,” said Bolt.