Nico Rosberg shares he had a near-deal with Ferrari to escape the rivalry with Lewis Hamilton

Nico Rosberg announced a surprise retirement from the sport in 2016.

Nico Rosberg shares he had a near-deal with Ferrari to escape the rivalry with Lewis Hamilton

Nico Rosberg, the 2016 F1 World Champion, recently revealed a tantalizing tidbit from his career. He claimed that he was on the verge of signing a contract with the iconic Scuderia Ferrari during his intense rivalry with Lewis Hamilton, considering a move to the storied team based in Maranello from Mercedes.

Rosberg moved from Williams to Mercedes in 2010, following their acquisition of Brawn GP, marking the start of his journey. He wasted no time establishing himself as a turbo-charged force, consistently outpacing Michael Schumacher. In 2012, rumors of a switch to Ferrari tantalized the F1 gossip mill. However, Rosberg decided to stick with the team. He clinched his first pole position and victory that year.

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Then came the seismic event in 2013 – the arrival of Hamilton. This marked the start of a rivalry. For two years straight, Rosberg and Hamilton duked it out for the championship, with Hamilton ultimately grabbing both titles. But the story took a dramatic turn in 2016. Rosberg, against all odds, clinched the World Drivers’ Championship. He dropped the mic on his F1 career, saying he had reached the summit.

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Reflecting on his career and the intense rivalry with Hamilton, Rosberg revealed that he had seriously considered a move to Ferrari. He admitted, as reported by Formulapassion.it, “There were some moments in which I had the opportunity to sign for Ferrari,” and even visited Maranello to explore the possibility. Ultimately, he decided to stay with Mercedes, which turned out to be the right one for his career.

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Nico Rosberg claims that he would like to be a Ferrari in his next life

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Nico Rosberg (Credits: formule1.nl)

After his championship win, Rosberg surprised the racing world by retiring from Formula 1. Despite having signed a contract extension with Mercedes, he chose to step away from the sport to prioritize family and preserve his skills. He was succeeded by Valtteri Bottas at Mercedes and transitioned into a role as a presenter for Sky F1.

A desire to don the red has not subsided in the German yet, as he remarked, “In my next life I want to race with Ferrari – he commented with a joke” However, he acknowledges the pressure that comes with being a Ferrari driver saying, “but it’s a double-edged sword, because if I’m at Ferrari and things don’t they are fine they crucify you.” He pointed out that the Ferrari seat is one of the most demanding in the sport, where underperformance is not tolerated.

Ultimately, Rosberg’s choice to remain with Mercedes allowed him to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming a Formula 1 world champion. The intense rivalry with Hamilton pushed both drivers to their limits, and Rosberg’s decision to stay put ultimately paid off in a career that will be remembered for its triumphs and the road not taken to Maranello.

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