F1 champion shares views on Verstappen retirement talk

Nico Rosberg has not ruled out the possibility that Max Verstappen retires from F1 early, as he did upon claiming the 2016 drivers' championship.

Whilst an unorthodox move, the former Williams and Mercedes driver opted to step away from at the age of 31, something he can envisage F1's current title-holder doing.

Verstappen is contracted to Red Bull until the end of the 2028 F1 season, at which point he will be the same age the German was when he called it a day.

Although unconventional, especially for a someone of his calibre, the four-time F1 drivers' champion has repeatedly insisted in the past that he would open to an early retirement, despite the very real possibility he could go on to usurp Lewis Hamilton as the most decorated driver in the history of F1.

The Dutchman does not wish to race until the age of 40, as the British driver has done, and has previously said his next contract in F1 will be his last.

There remains the possibility he leaves Red Bull early for pastures new within the paddock, but if he honours his current deal, that would leave him four seasons to overhaul Hamilton's seven titles and 105-grand prix wins - Verstappen is on 63 victories currently.

Although a tall order, the 27-year-old has never voiced any motivation to attain that level of success in F1. To Rosberg, it is entirely plausible Verstappen walks away around the same point he did, partly for that reason.

"It's possible," he told Italian publication Gazzetta dello Sport. "Max has already achieved so much despite his young age.

"The intensity of Formula 1 leaves a mark on you, both mentally and physically. If he feels he has achieved what he set out to do, and he wants more out of life, I would understand his choice."

When addressing why he decided to retire himself, Rosberg explained that having beaten then-team-mate Hamilton to the crown in his final year, he wanted to exit on top, at the peak of his powers.

The 23-time grand prix winner maintains that was the right decision for him, as it allowed him the opportunity to focus on important aspects of life outside F1.

"No, I have no regrets," the 39-year-old said. "I realised my dream of becoming world champion and I wanted to leave at the peak of my career.

"By retiring I was able to spend more time with my family and start my career as an investor. I did what I felt was right for me."