Lauda in shock: "Half Formula 1 proposed to replace Rosberg"

The decision of training camp by Nico Rosberg arrived like a bolt from the blue: the same one too Mercedes, they say, was taken by surprise. Now, however, we need to think about it concrete and it will be necessary to quickly choose the new replacement of German. Having a place in the Stuttgart team, especially in this historic moment in Formula 1, is a dream for almost everyone. To even admit it Niki Laudaremained thunderstruck by the quantity of "proposals" and "self-nominations" received to race for Mercedes.

The Austrian, in fact, at Journal of Sport revealed that there are many drivers on the list for this place, but that the best remain protected by a contract with other teams: “We lose a world champion, the best rider of 2016, it won't be easy to replace him. Also because all pilots of a certain level have contracts with others. Hiring a young person? It's a risk, we don't know if he'll be strong. Yes, practically half a Formula 1 is on offer", he has declared.

Lauda also wanted to comment on the news of Rosberg's retirement, expressing his great feelings disbelief: “A few hours before the news became public – he told Gazzetta dello Sport – We spoke on the phone. I was disappointed, I didn't expect it, no one at Mercedes imagined that he would say enough. At first I didn't believe it. 'Nico, I told him, are you kidding me? It's a joke?' But he seriously said that it was all true. Really incredible. When I won the first title I immediately thought about how to win the second. Nico doesn't. Rosberg's decision has us disoriented, we weren't prepared and then all those who collaborated in Nico's victory at the World Championship were very upset."he concluded.