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Nico Rosberg, who won this year's Formula One championship at the age of 31, sent shock waves around the auto racing world Friday by announcing his retirement via a Facebook message.
"From the moment when the destiny of the title was in my own hands, the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became world champion," he wrote. "On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi ⅛site of the season's final race⅜, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start. I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time."
According to Reuters, Rosberg had never even hinted at retirement and was seen Thursday at the Mercedes team's factory in Brackley, England. He's scheduled to attend F1's season-ending gala in Vienna on Friday.
"I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right," Rosberg wrote. "My strongest emotion right now is deep gratitude to everybody who supported me to make that dream happen."
Rosberg, who said he came to his decision on Monday, clinched this year's F1 title on Sunday in Abu Dhabi after finishing second in each of the previous two seasons. The son of former F1 champion Keke Rosberg been racing in F1's top series since 2006, finishing his career with 23 wins.