Sports & Fitness

Nico Rosberg could have replaced Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes’ driver in 2020

Retired F1 driver thought of making comeback when British champion was unable to race after contracting coronavirus

Updated 4 years ago · Published on 12 Jan 2022 4:00PM

Nico Rosberg could have replaced Lewis Hamilton as Mercedes’ driver in 2020 — Following his decision to quit Formula One racing in 2016 after being crowned world champion, German-Finnish driver Nico Rosberg (pictured left) did momentarily think of returning to Mercedes when Lewis Hamilton (pictured right) contracted coronavirus in 2020 but soon realised that he was not physically fit to drive a Formula One car. – AFP pic, January 12, 2022

WIESBADEN − Nico Rosberg decided to call it quits from Formula One in 2016 − behind the wheel of his Mercedes − after the German-Finnish driver clinched his first, and only, world champion title.

Despite Rosberg deciding to turn the page on the world of Formula One with his shock decision to retire from the sport, the flame could well have been rekindled in 2020 when Lewis Hamilton contracted the coronavirus and was unable to race − bringing in Williams’ George Russell as a substitute.

As Nico Rosberg revealed in a report by thejudge13.com, he could have been seen driving a Mercedes again as it had crossed his mind.

“I thought about it. Hamilton had Covid and had to miss the race. So, I said to myself, ‘It would be cool if I sat in a Mercedes again’,” said the German, as reported by Motorsport Total.

However, Rosberg soon realised that he was no longer fit for Formula One racing, explaining: “I wouldn’t have (had) a chance today. I wouldn’t have (had) a chance to do more than three laps at all.

“My arms, my forearms, would fail immediately. And your neck would fall between your legs when you brake. I can’t hold it at all. I have no muscles left.” – Agencies, January 12, 2022