Rosberg explains why he was unable to return to Formula One

Nico Rosberg has admitted that he considered approaching Mercedes to volunteer to replace Lewis Hamilton at Sakhir in 2020.

When Lewis Hamilton tested positive for COVID-19 ahead of the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg confessed that he pondered calling Mercedes to offer his services as a stand-in driver.

The virus caused Hamilton to quit the race, leaving Mercedes scrambling to find a replacement to drive their W11 alongside Valtteri Bottas in Bahrain. In the end, the team called Williams’ George Russell.

Rosberg, who retired from Formula One after winning the 2016 World Championship with Mercedes, said he was tempted to call his former team to volunteer because it was a one-time event.

Rosberg, on the other hand, hasn’t been keeping up with the required training for an F1 driver, and the German admitted he wouldn’t have been able to drive the car for more than two laps.

“I physically wouldn’t be able,” Rosberg told Jenson Button as the two World Champions had a chat on Rosberg’s YouTube channel.

“I would definitely have considered picking up the phone there, but I physically would not have been able to. No way.

“I would not manage more than two laps with that car. My arms would solidify rock solid, my fingers… I wouldn’t be able to hold the steering wheel anymore after two laps, I am sure.

“Not to speak of the neck falling between my legs when I’m braking, because I wouldn’t be able to hold my head up! You know, the G-forces on those things, the challenge and the development you need on all your specific muscles, your arm muscles… It’s very on the edge.”

Bahrain, with its heavy braking zones, would have offered its own issues for an out-of-shape driver, as Button pointed out, and Rosberg agreed.

“In braking, you need to push against the steering wheel, because otherwise you’re just gonna fall into the seatbelt,” added Rosberg.

“So there’s a lot of specific things that you need to use so no way, physically no chance, because I was thinking about it!”

Rosberg has no desire to return

Rosberg, although being a recent World Champion, would not have been eligible for an FIA Superlicence unless he had done a 300-kilometer distance test for a team in the days between the two Bahrain weekends.

Rosberg, on the other hand, confessed that he would be interested in anything other than a one-off F1 appearance. With no F1 mileage since getting out of his W07 in Abu Dhabi, the 2016 Champion has no desire to compete in another season.

“If you tell me, ‘You can try Valtteri’s car tomorrow in Bahrain for a day of testing’, I’d be like, ‘Wow, that’s so cool’. I would love to do it,” Rosberg said.

“But if you tell me, ‘OK, you have the chance to be back in a season now’, [then] no, no thank you very much everybody! I’m very happy with my second life and that’s all done and fulfilled.”

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