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Champion Rosberg announces surprising retirement from F1

ULISES RUIZ BASURTO / Reuters

Less than a week after winning the world championship at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, Nico Rosberg has announced his retirement from Formula 1 racing.

In a statement posted on Facebook, Rosberg, 31, said winning the Formula 1 title was his goal. After accomplishing that, he's at peace with walking away from the sport.

“Since 25 years in racing, it has been my dream, my ‘one thing’ to become Formula One World Champion," Rosberg wrote. "Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. And now I’ve made it. I have climbed my mountain, I am on the peak, so this feels right.

"My strongest emotion right now is deep gratitude to everybody who supported me to make that dream happen."

Since his first win at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix, Rosberg has been nothing if not spectacular on the track.

He finished on the podium 57 times in his career, winning 23 races and finally capturing the F1 championship this year after edging out Mercedes teammate Lewis Hamilton for top spot in the 2016 F1 Driver Standings.

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