Rosberg reveals: 'I was afraid I wouldn't be good enough anymore'

Nico Rosberg has opened up about his 2016 decision to quit as a Formula 1 driver. In a candid interview with Men's Health, the former world champion explains the reasoning behind his sudden departure from the sport.

In 2016, Rosberg managed to win the championship from his Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton in a hard-fought title battle. Five days later, he surprised everyone by announcing his retirement. The announcement was so sudden that even the team was barely aware of the decision. The decision did not come easily to Rosberg himself, the German explained.

"I was afraid that at some point I wouldn’t be good enough and that no team would want me anymore," Rosberg explains. "I wanted to decide for myself. In a way, I gave up my identity. Everything in my life was racing: my mechanics, my engineers, my teammates, even my social environment."

"To put all that to zero in one fell swoop was a shock to my system, " acknowledges Rosberg. "Then there was the addiction to recognition and success. I had never asked myself what other passions I had. There was always just the next race."

Since leaving Formula 1, Rosberg has not completely left the sport behind. Besides working as an analyst for Sky Sports, he also does his own analysis online and in a podcast. He also has his own team in Extreme E, runs his own training programme for young drivers and invests in sustainable businesses and technologies.