Nico Rosberg, who won his first Formula One Championship after beating his Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton, announced his retirement on Friday.
The 31-year-old clinched the title after finishing second in the final race of the season in the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The reactions to his sudden retirement were largely those of shock but many of his peers congratulated him on a spectacular career.
Here, we list the best tweets following the announcement.
Dream...
— MERCEDES AMG F1 (@MercedesAMGF1) December 2, 2016
Fulfilled...#DankeN1CO #n1co @nico_rosberg https://t.co/CMdrgAE2Sj
I just broke the shock news of @nico_rosberg retirement from F1 on @5liveSport. I am blown away but I have nothing but praise for him.
— M A X Chilton (@maxchilton) December 2, 2016
🎙✌🏼️
Definitely a great Champion!!!! Big admiration @nico_rosberg #respect
— Sergio Pérez (@SChecoPerez) December 2, 2016
Wow @nico_rosberg retiring as a World Champion..actually what a great way to end a great career. Enjoy your family time.
— Johnny herbert (@johnnyherbertf1) December 2, 2016
Nico #Rosberg:
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 2, 2016
"Through the hard work, the pain, the sacrifices, this has been my target. Now I’ve made it."
More https://t.co/txjQ4L68ld pic.twitter.com/DNfVv1a1Yt
NICO ROSBERG
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 2, 2016
Sunday = achieves lifelong ambition, emulates his father
Friday = retires from #F1 as world champion
That's some five days 😮 pic.twitter.com/92imPS5A0B
Respect @nico_rosberg ... pic.twitter.com/akUuyhy6yj
— Vladimir Rys (@vladimirrys) December 2, 2016
Can we all just take a minute to appreciate the fact that this ballsy, title risking overtake was Rosberg's last ever in #F1 pic.twitter.com/mdIKNMzKTA
— Alex Gillon (@Alex_Gillon) December 2, 2016
NICO ROSBERG
— Formula 1 (@F1) December 2, 2016
Sunday = achieves lifelong ambition, emulates his father
Friday = retires from #F1 as world champion
That's some five days 😮 pic.twitter.com/92imPS5A0B
Very surprised & shocked by the announcement of Nico Rosberg's retirement!
— Sebastian Vettel #5 (@sebvettelnews) December 2, 2016
We wish you all the best for the future @nico_rosberg! #respect pic.twitter.com/tMS21HMt7M
Spoken words and images of Rosberg saying goodbye to F1. An Emotional Farewell from Nico Rosberg https://t.co/qy0jtqCiLL via @YouTube
— Jef (@rallyjef) December 2, 2016
Respect my friend! @nico_rosberg
— Romain Grosjean (@RGrosjean) December 2, 2016
Extraordinary news from @nico_rosberg... Come on Toto! Do a deal with Mclaren and get Fernando back - now that will be entertaining!!
— Karun Chandhok (@karunchandhok) December 2, 2016
Can we all just take a minute to appreciate the fact that this ballsy, title risking overtake was Rosberg's last ever in #F1 pic.twitter.com/mdIKNMzKTA
— Alex Gillon (@Alex_Gillon) December 2, 2016
Incredible news about @nico_rosberg retiring from F1. Very brave making that decision.
— Juan Pablo Montoya (@jpmontoya) December 2, 2016
Full Respect for @nico_rosberg
— Florian König (@FlorianKoenig1) December 2, 2016
“I’ve made it”.
— Bleacher Report UK (@br_uk) December 2, 2016
Nico Rosberg on his shock retirement from F1 pic.twitter.com/gWgoot6xiS
Within seconds of @nico_rosberg announcing he's retiring, @alo_oficial sets up camp outside the @MercedesAMGF1 factory pic.twitter.com/hcaDPd07E1
— Ralph (@Ralph_E_S) December 2, 2016
Big respect 👏🏻
Good luck @nico_rosberg pic.twitter.com/PUxKSitrd8
— Kevin Magnussen (@KevinMagnussen) December 2, 2016
Very surprised! But the biggest respect @nico_rosberg . Great champion. Enjoy your next chapter in life https://t.co/CvPfXtDvS8
— Marcus Ericsson (@Ericsson_Marcus) December 2, 2016
FINAL STATS: NICO ROSBERG
Seasons: 11
Starts: 206
Wins: 23
Podiums: 57
Pole positions: 30
Fastest laps: 20
World titles: 1#F1FastFact pic.twitter.com/mWSp3V6aPJ— Formula 1 (@F1) December 2, 2016
