When Lewis Hamilton was forced to sit out after contracting COVID at the 2020 Sakhir Grand Prix, a former Formula 1 world champion considered replacing him. Bad idea.
Nico Rossberg He retired from Formula 1 in 2016 after becoming world champion against Lewis Hamilton and surprising everyone with his announcement. But surely it would have been so surprising to see him return for a race as a substitute for Lewis Hamilton, something that he has recognized that he came to consider.
This happened in 2020, specifically when Lewis Hamilton was forced to absent himself from the Sakhir Grand Prix after contracting COVID. The already seven-time champion not only had to be isolated, but also developed the symptoms of the disease and spent a few difficult days from the physical point of view.
Soon, Mercedes got to work on a replacement for the Briton and the logical choice was selected: George Russell, who left his place at Williams to Jack Aitken to defend the colors of what has ended up being his team this 2022.
Impossible
But Nico Rosberg even considered calling toto wolff to offer himself as a substitute for his former partner, although he admits that this idea soon disappeared from his head.
“I thought so. Hamilton had COVID and was due to be absent for a race. It was then that I said to myself: “It would be interesting to get in there again”. Then I reconsidered. I would have zero chances, I couldn’t do more than three laps, “acknowledges the German.
“My arms and forearms would have suffered immediately. And my neck would fall between my legs when braking. I couldn’t hold it, I don’t have any muscles left there,” he reiterates, surely disappointed. “I would be able to drive one, two or three laps and then it would be over. Physically, there was no possibility».
But the physical aspect was not the only problem that crossed Nico Rosberg’s mind, who since his retirement from the Formula 1 He has not competed again and, therefore, has lost the habit of driving to the limit in a car as extreme as a Formula 1.
“If I had to drive in Monaco now, I would be scared. In Bahrain it was possible, there was desert and there are many loopholes, so I would not be afraid, “he says, although not very convinced.
It was undoubtedly a good decision by Rosberg, because last year it was clear with Fernando Alonso how difficult it is to return to the most demanding competition after a period of absence, no matter how much you have continued to compete in other equally competitive categories.