Nico Rosberg quits: Lewis Hamilton let off the hook after defying Mercedes team bosses in Abu Dhabi
The Brit's team are frantically trying to find a replacement for Roberg, who sensationally quit on Friday
LEWIS HAMILTON will be left off the hook for defying team bosses in Abu Dhabi as they frantically try to find a replacement for Nico Rosberg.
The German's decision to quit F1 has left Merc chiefs with a real headache for 2017 - and they won't risk aggravating their other star driver.
Hamilton was due to be hauled in to the team's HQ at Brackley where he was expected to be read the riot act for ignoring technical chief Paddy Lowe's calls to speed up during last Sunday's race.
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Mercedes' Head of Motorsport, Toto Wolff, said the team would not tolerate "anarchy" in their ranks and hinted at punishment for Hamilton, but that is almost certain to now disappear.
Rosberg announced his decision not to defend his title in a statement on Facebook where there was no mention of Hamilton, although he subsequently praised the Brit in interviews afterwards.
His decision to quit means Mercedes need to find a replacement before the season starts in Melbourne on March 26th.
And one name that is top of the wish-list is two-time world champion Fernando Alonso, who was desperate to join Mercedes in 2014.
The Spaniard is in the final year of his contract at McLaren but would jump at the chance to join Mercedes and partner Hamilton for a second time in his career.
Alonso called Wolff about a seat for the 2014 season when his Ferrari contract was up but the Austrian was unwilling to break up his pairing to accommodate Alonso.
However, Rosberg's retirement now paves the way for Mercedes to create a dream team, however, they would need to find a way to release him from his McLaren deal - worth around £25million.
Should Merc break the bank to sign Alonso, it could have further ramifications and see McLaren active their option on Jenson Button and bring him back to F1.
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Another option to Mercedes would be to promote test driver Pascal Wehrlein, who drove for Manor last season and is currently without a drive for next year.
Last night, Wolff admitted the team were left shell-shocked and were investigating their options for 2017.
He said: "This is an unexpected situation but also an exciting one. We are going into a new era of technical regulations and there is a free Mercedes cockpit for the seasons ahead.
"We will take the necessary time to evaluate our options and then find the right path for our future."
But while Wolff - and the F1 world - was stunned by Rosberg's decision, Hamilton felt otherwise.
He added: "I'm probably one of the only people that it was not a surprise to but that's because I've known him for a long time.
"This is the first time he's won in 18 years, hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop.
"But he's also got a family to focus on, having children, and Formula One takes so much of your time.
"It's going to be very very strange and it will be sad not to have him in the team next year. The sport will miss him, and I wish him all the best."
Meanwhile, Rosberg says he made his decision after a fraught title fight and was considering hanging up his helmet since the Japanese GP on October 9th.
He added: "When I won the race in Suzuka the big pressure started and I began to think about ending my racing career if I became World Champion.
"On Sunday morning in Abu Dhabi, I knew that it could be my last race and that feeling cleared my head before the start.
"I wanted to enjoy every part of the experience, knowing it might be the last time... and then the lights went out and I had the most intense 55 laps of my life."