Former world champion Nico Rosberg is "done with driving" but ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season, the racer in him is most excited about Ferrari fielding two "number one drivers" in Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc for the first time in a decade.
Twenty-one year old Leclerc is being touted as a future world champion after an impressive debut season with Sauber last year. Ferrari had a clear number one and two in Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen for the past four seasons but all of that is set to change with the arrival of Leclerc.
"That's super exciting because he's fast, he's very, very fast (Leclerc). He has everything to be world champion one day, and against Sebastian there, because until now, Sebastian had a clear No. 2 on the team and now that's over," Rosberg told a select group of media ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards here.
"Now he really has everything to be No. 1 and that's pretty exciting to watch. Sebastian can't afford to do a season like last year or he'll be beaten by his teammates. He really needs to perform now and that's going to be really, really fun," said the 33-year-old.
Rosberg, who is also a Laureus ambassador, had announced a shock retirement five days after winning his maiden title in 2016, when he pipped fierce rival and teammate Lewis Hamilton.
The German said it will be interesting to see how Ferrari handle Vettel and Leclerc. He also feels Vettel did not seize opportunities in his title fight against Hamilton last year.
"Internally, how Ferrari manage that because for so many years they have had a No. 1 and number two, as long as I can think, yeah. This will be the first time now since ages, I don't even know how long, really ages, that they have two No. 1s. The last time was Kimi against Felipe (Massa) in 2009.
"So, the first time in ages that they have two No. 1s and that's going to be so cool to watch how they manage that internally, and Leclerc, how much respect Leclerc is going to have, it's going to be really fun."
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