Opinion: Formula One's King abdicates - who takes the throne?

(Getty Images)
(Getty Images)

In seven seasons with Mercedes F1, Nico Rosberg claimed 30 pole positions and 23 race victories - but he only needed one world championship.

His retirement announced at the Formula 1 end-of-season gala was a shock to many - even Rosberg admitted he wasn't sure he "had the balls" to follow through with it.

Still he has, and now after 25 years trying to emulate his father Keke, he has won motorsport's biggest prize.

Sure, it was a two-horse race - Mercedes have simply been that strong for the past three seasons - and yes, mechanical issues thwarted Lewis Hamilton.

Nevertheless, Rosberg is deserving of the crown. The question now, is who gets to sit in his throne?

To start with, how attractive is a place alongside Hamilton? Like many top F1 drivers, he is no fan of sharing the limelight. That is as much a compliment as it is a criticism - being an F1 driver is by nature and necessity one of the most selfish pursuits on earth.

The first question is, does Toto Wolff want the grief of having two big dogs in the kennel?

My gut feeling is no, which makes my top pick Pascal Wehrlein. The 22-year-old Manor driver is a member of the Mercedes junior program, so he is already part of the long-term plan.

The German (another tick) was a revelation in DTM (German Touring Cars), where he became the youngest ever champion at 20.

While the Manor's poor reliability hampered him in the later part of the 2016, his earlier performances as a rookie in a car that is considered the donkey among thoroughbreds were impressive. Wolff even declared him a "special boy" after he qualified the Manor on the sixth row at the Red Bull Ring.

Surely logic will prevail; Wehrlein is fast, young and is already familiar with Mercedes car.

Opinion: Formula One's King abdicates - who takes the throne?

Pascal Wehrlein (Getty Images)

On the other hand, Mercedes may have a long-term plan to ensure front-row lockouts, which could point to Fernando Alonso or Sebastian Vettel. Unlike both of those drivers, Hamilton doesn't have a veto over his teammate - in other words, he only wants to be the alpha-driver - but they have it in their contracts. I simply cannot see it working. Still, don't rule it out for 2018 - the fireworks would be brilliant!

If so, a stopgap would be needed. This could be Wehrlein (but what a waste of talent) or maybe the 'gap year' Jenson Button could find a way?

Opinion: Formula One's King abdicates - who takes the throne?

Jenson Button (Getty Images)

Opinion: Formula One's King abdicates - who takes the throne?
Opinion: Formula One's King abdicates - who takes the throne?

Sebastian Vettel and Fernando Alonso (Getty Images)

Otherwise the next-gen stocks are healthier than they have been for years.

Esteban Ocon and Carlos Sainz Jr are other top options.

There is no doubt that the seat is appealing, the replacement is in effect inheriting the World Champion car - but they will also know that Hamilton expects to reclaim the crown. So, who wants to be Prince Harry?

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