Nico Rosberg insists he's staying retired despite Formula E drive in Berlin

The 32-year-old won't be making a return but will test the Gen2 car in the German capital

Tom Wakey
Berlin
Friday 18 May 2018 14:30 BST
Comments
Nico Rosberg has left F1 behind, but what is next for the 32-year-old champ?
Nico Rosberg has left F1 behind, but what is next for the 32-year-old champ? (Getty)

Nico Rosberg insists he is still happily retired despite making his return to the cockpit this weekend at the Formula E Berlin E-Prix.

The Formula One World Champion was driving the Formula E Season 5 Gen2 car for the first ti formula me publicly, parading the futuristic vehicle on the streets of Berlin where he admitted the buzz of driving a race car came flooding back.

Rosberg has become an investor in the all-electric street-racing Championship and alongside recently-announced Venturi driver Felipe Massa is one of the biggest names to attach himself to Formula E.

Nico Rosberg will test the Gen2 car in Berlin this weekend
Nico Rosberg will test the Gen2 car in Berlin this weekend (Formula E)

He said: “It will be my first time on a race track tomorrow and I really got the whole feeling coming back after driving the car so I was like ‘can I go on the race track now!?’ It is going to be great – I’m excited.

“I might be a little bit nervous actually thinking ‘do I still have it in me? Am I going to be able to feel the limit with it being such a different car?’ I better not shunt it! Although it would create a bit of a story.

“I think the racing will be just as good as it is now - the car looks awesome which is important because the visual is always important and it will be great racing, close racing and some great battles next year I’m sure just like now.

Formula E car drives on ice cap

“It is great to be a part of this because I believe in it and have done for a long time so. Alejandro does a great job leading it and being a pioneer and it is right in the moment because e-mobility is going to go massive in our world so I believe in it.

“When I stopped in F1 I didn’t think about it but when I stopped and started to think and learn about it, it became clear quite quickly that this is going to take off so I came on board. It is a new interest because before it was just F1, win the next race and family. I kept it that simple and that was one of my keys to success.

“When I stopped my horizons opened and I really started to look at the world and what is out there and speaking to people and that is where I really became interested in this movement that is going on. This innovation which is happening where e-mobility can really play such an important role in taking the world closer to sustainability.

“I’m in a good place with my retirement which is nice and it has just been so nice to be able to go out on a high and then change into this new life for me in such a way. It was really great in hindsight so I have been really lucky.”

Rosberg will be putting the Gen2, which can go 0-60mph in 2.7seconds, through its paces on the track prior to the Berlin E-Prix on Saturday.

You can watch the Berlin E-Prix live on Channel 5 this Saturday May 20 at 4.45pm.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in