Nico Rosberg quits: Childhood sweetheart and devoted wife and mum… who is Vivian Rosberg, the woman behind world champion’s shock F1 bow out
German's decision to quit Formula One comes largely to spend more time with stunning Vivian and daughter Alaia
NICO ROSBERG cited his family as a major factor in his shock retirement from Formula One.
The German champion said the intense year - in which he bested bitter rival Lewis Hamilton - was too strenuous on his relationship with wife Vivian and 15-month-old daughter Alaia.
He admitted: "This season, I tell you, it was so damn tough. I pushed like crazy in every area after the disappointments of the last two years; they fuelled my motivation to levels I had never experienced before.
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"And of course that had an impact on the ones I love, too – it was a whole family effort of sacrifice, putting everything behind our target.
"I cannot find enough words to thank my wife Vivian; she has been incredible.
"She understood that this year was the big one, our opportunity to do it, and created the space for me to get full recovery between every race, looking after our daughter each night, taking over when things got tough and putting our championship first."
Rosberg, 31, told how he consulted Vivian, also 31, before quitting F1.
He added: "I didn't know if I had the balls, and I took a bit of time.
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"But I am done. End of story, and the next step is being a dad and a husband and I am very much looking forward to that."
So who exactly is the woman behind one of the most shocking retirements in sporting history?
Rosberg married childhood sweetheart Vivian on 11 July 2014 after a lengthy engagement.
While arch-nemesis Lewis Hamilton has been linked with a whole host of stunning celebrities since his split from ex Nicole Sherzinger - including models Barbara Palvin, Winnie Harlow and popstar Rita Ora - Rosberg never appears to have been seduced by the glitzy stars who surround F1.
After watching Vivian almost single-handedly raise Alaia so that he could focus on achieving his lifelong dream of winning the title, Rosberg decided to pack it in.
Her parents are longtime friends of Rosberg's and she even has experience working with cars - though not to the extent of her hubby.
An interior design graduate at the European University of Design in Milan, Vivian helped redesign Lotus' work spaces and home for the team.