While the rest of the F1 world was left open-mouthed, Lewis Hamilton says Nico Rosberg's retirement doesn't surprise him.

Maybe that's because the German had already told him.

"I informed Lewis myself before this, it is the right way to do it," revealed the German at the FIA Prize Gala in Vienna, moments after delivering the biggest shock of the F1 season.

"We had so many battles and so many moments," he continued, "so I thought it correct to let him know of my decision and especially in light of his post yesterday, which was kind of him. Maybe we can have a discussion tonight."

The post Rosberg referred to was that tweeted by Hamilton on Wednesday evening when the Briton accompanied a picture of the two chatting and smiling during their teens with the message: "We said we'd be champions back then, now we both are! Congratulations Nico, you did everything a champion needed to do. Well deserved"

Suspicions that the tweet was more the work of the Mercedes PR machine than the Briton himself, were given credence by Hamilton's comments in the wake of today's announcement.

"The sport will miss him but I wish him all the best," he said. "I am sure it is a surprise to many people. I am probably the only person who thought it was not a surprise because I've known him a long time, but this is motor racing.

"This is the first time he has won in 18 years," he continued, a classless comment that does Hamilton no favours since he is clearly not only referring to Rosberg's F1 career, "hence why it was not a surprise that he decided to stop. He's got a family to focus on, and wants more children, and F1 takes so much time.

"Will I miss the rivalry? Of course," he added. "We had always talked about being champions and when I joined this team and Nico was there, which is also something we talked about when we were kids. It is definitely something very strange and it'll be sad to not have him in the team next year."

Asked if he will seek input in terms of who takes the German's seat, he didn't appear too bothered, possibly because the biggest threats are locked into almost watertight contracts for next season.

"If they want to talk to me, they can talk to me about it," he said. "It should be someone who has to work well in the team. There will be stronger characters and less strong characters and some drivers who take alternative routes in order to deal with competition. There will be good and bad ones out there, for sure, I would be more than happy to help with that analysis. I just always asked to have equal rights. As long we're treated fairly, it doesn't really matter who is alongside you.

"Of course, we've got great team bosses who I'm sure will choose the right people to be representing the brand," he concluded. "I'm interested to see who would want to be my team-mate and respect anyone that would want to."

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READERS COMMENTS

1. Posted by Usedtobe, 03/12/2016 18:29

"What we saw at Yas Marina was what any true racer would but is didn't felt well on the team powers to be, add that the crew swap whithout any question on is opinion, despite is triple champion status it's hard to believe the team care about any thougts he has on the subject. His only advantage is that we don't know what 2017 brings and Mercedes may not have such a dominant car that they can rely on either of it's drivers to be fast enough to becomee WCC no matters who he is. "

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2. Posted by White Lightning, 03/12/2016 15:41

"This is why people can't warm to Hamilton - he's made it all about him, once again."

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3. Posted by equator180, 03/12/2016 2:51

"I wonder what Lewis would have to say if it were Verstappen sitting in the car beside him with a big smile on his face. Treated with equal rights...It seems the F1 fan base have numerous opinions however on one site there was a pole as to who they would like to see in the car across from Lewis and the winner was Alonso, this would be interesting as well.."

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4. Posted by BrightonCorgi, 02/12/2016 19:48

"Button is now not be so retired after all... His best success was with that team.

Hamilton is not a politician, so you can't expect everything he says to be so correct..."

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5. Posted by ClarkwasGod, 02/12/2016 19:40

"I'll be betting Alonso and his lawyers will be working out how he could jump ship."

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6. Posted by Burton, 02/12/2016 18:22

"That was a really stupid dig by Lewis, he knows as well as anyone this is Nico's 3rd title, after Formula BMW and GP2. Why did he even feel it necessary to say something ridiculous like that?"

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7. Posted by Kkiirmki, 02/12/2016 18:20

"Maybe they can go back to just being mates now? "

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Hamilton unsurprised by Rosberg's announcement

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