Chinese Grand Prix – Reigning World Champion Nico Rosberg has opted to return to F1 after just one race, replacing Valtteri Bottas with immediate effect.

This was an April Fool’s article, published April 1st 2017.

The German driver won the title in a nail-biting climax to the 2016 season, coming home P2 to teammate Lewis Hamilton but clinching the coveted crown in the process. Just two days later, Rosberg made a shock announcement that he was to retire from the sport, presumably due to having just succeeded to defeating Hamilton in a straight fight over a season.

Mercedes were forced to immediately look elsewhere for a replacement, landing on the Toto Wolff-managed Valtteri Bottas, who left Williams for the team. Following the season opener in Australia, Bottas finished P3 to Hamilton’s P2, with both Mercs defeated by Ferrari’s Sebastian Vettel.

However, Nico Rosberg & Mercedes have immediately decided to renew their partnership, with Rosberg immediately replacing Bottas from China onwards. An unnamed source and brand ambassador from Mercedes told FormulaSpy:

“Well, we knew the undercut wouldn’t work in Australia against Seb, which is why we put Lewis on that strategy. It worked perfectly. Seeing Valtteri come home just behind Lewis as a result and knowing that Val is basically Felipe Massa, because that’s how these comparisons work, we have decided we need a real number one back in the team. We think that my, I mean Nico’s chances, of another title are excellent this year. Particularly with the full backing of Mercedes.”

Rosberg is believed to have become disillusioned with domestic life quite quickly, and is believed to have been particularly annoyed by his relatively new curved smart TV being pulled off the coffee table while watching the Australian race. This was caused by wife Viviane walking over to close the curtains because of the glare coming in from outside. While not completely broken, the picture is now half off the screen and has several dead pixels. With the warranty just expired, Rosberg has opted against shelling out for a new one for his Monte Carlo apartment and return to the seat where he will, presumably, be handed another effortless title against three time World Champion Lewis Hamilton.

Valtteri Bottas, having just made a very solid start to his career in a front line car, will immediately replace Mercedes young driver Pascal Wehrlein at Sauber.

Speaking of his new role, the Finn was typically reserved and considered in his response:

Article published April 1st, 2017.