Nico Rosberg Reveals What Held Him Back from Making a Comeback with Mercedes in 2020

Nico Rosberg Reveals What Held Him Back from Making a Comeback with Mercedes in 2020

Nico Rosberg

Nico Rosburg, the German-Finnish former racer, won the 2016 F1 World Championship driving for Mercedes-AMG Petronas Motorsport driving alongside his teammate and 7 times world champion Lewis Hamilton. Shocking everyone Nico Rosberg then decided to retire from F1 as he “achieved his childhood dream”. Nico Rosberg ,the FIA Hall of Famer Rosberg, shifted his focus  into driver management, punditry, and became an eco-entrepreneur following his retirement.

Nico Rosberg was presented with an opportunity of potentially replace Lewis Hamilton who got infected by covid-19, right before the Sakhir Grand Prix. Team Mercedes was in desperate need of a potential need of a replacement for him and decided to approach former champion Nico Rosburg who turned down the opportunity. On a recent interview Nico Rosberg talked about the chance and why he didn’t pursue it.   

Nico Rosberg said he thought about the opportunity he was presented to replace Lewis Hamilton but decided not to take the opportunity. Nico Rosberg said he said no to the chance as he didn’t have the muscle strength or fitness to race more than 3 laps in an F1 car reminding the fans about how physically fit a racing driver have to keep himself for a long and successful career.

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“I thought about it,” Nico Rosberg said.

“I certainly don’t have a chance to race more than three laps. My arms would stop working and my neck would fall between my legs. I don’t have those muscles anymore,” Nico Rosberg added.

Who replaced Lewis Hamilton after Nico Rosberg decided not to comeback and how did it go?

George Russell
George Russell

Team Mercedes decided to give the chance to their young prospect George Russell, who replaced Valtteri Bottas for the 2022 season as Lewis Hamilton’s partner, who was part of Mercedes’s junior driving program and driver for Williams in 2020 season. George Russell  took the chance with his both hands and was praised by the media and Mercedes for his performance.

George Russell qualified for p2 only losing to teammate Valtteri Bottas who secured the pole position. George Russell led the race from the start until before the last 20 laps Mercedes pit crew fitted Bottas’ front tyres on George Russell’s car, forcing him to re-pit. A picture to his tyres forces him to pit again even after all misfortunes  George Russell finished in p9 and also secured the fastest lap. George Russell will be hoping to recreate his performance with Mercedes on his first full time stint with Mercedes.

Also read: Charles Leclerc names ‘solo’ moment when he was frightened in his F1 career