Johnny Herbert not shocked by Rosberg's retirement decision

Former Formula 1 driver Johnny Herbert thinks that he would have carried out a similar move to Nico Rosberg, who retired days after winning his first world championship.

Herbert, who is now a pundit for Sky Sports, says that he sees similar character traits between himself and the retired German.

"I was not as shocked or surprised as many others," Herbert told Badger GP. "I don’t know because it never happened to me, but I think I was that type of character as well. My goal was always to win the world championship, so I probably would have been quite similar."

The three time Grand Prix winner thinks that Rosberg made his decision to retire over the physical and mental exhaustion from the tense 2016 season in which he was once again locked in battle with former team mate Lewis Hamilton.

"The biggest thing I saw in Abu Dhabi – and I can’t remember whether it was after the race or on the podium – was he looked absolutely shattered. Mentally and physically shattered.

"Sometimes we’ve been a bit critical when he won a race because we didn’t see the emotion, but it was brilliant to actually see the way he went about the achievement."

Some suggest that Rosberg will come to regret his decision to call it a day in F1, but Herbert thinks he will never return to the pinnacle of motorsport. However, he is not so sure about other categories.

"He’s going to have a bit of time with the family, and then he might in a couple of years go and have a go at Le Mans, or DTM. I think he’s done with Formula 1, though; I don’t see him coming back."

Fergal Walsh