Monaco is the one Grand Prix of the year that would be hard for Nico Rosberg to avoid. The reigning world champion lives just minutes away from the iconic circuit in the principality.
Since his shock retirement after winning the 2017 world championship, Rosberg has largely kept away from the Formula 1 spotlight. He made an unexpected visit to Mercedes during pre-season testing at Barcelona in March.
However, he has been spending most of his time with his family. This weekend will be the first time he's been present for a Grand Prix weekend, and the 31-year-old admitted that he expected it would be an emotional experience.
"The Monaco Grand Prix is going to be the most emotional race for me to get back to," he said. "With all those positive emotions, it's really going to be very special.
"Coming back now as a world champion, that's going to be amazing," he continued. "To the race track where I have had the most success in my career. And coming back to all the people that have supported me so much all these years.
"It's for sure going to be incredible."
He added that he had become a passionate fan of watching the sport since standing down.
"The races so far this year have been absolutely awesome," he said. "There's been everything; excitement, stuff happening, they've been unpredictable so we can't wish for more."
Even so, Rosberg said that he had no regrets about walking away when he did and no second thoughts about returning to the sport.
"I've closed a chapter now on my career and I have all these amazing memories and emotions."
Former team mate Lewis Hamilton revealed earlier this month that he'd briefly met up with Rosberg by accident while out running in London.
"The one time I’ve seen him I was running through the streets in London. It’s kind of strange," Hamilton recalled. "[I was] running from Covent Garden all the way down to the Thames, and the Thames down to Battersea kind of area and back up near Parliament
"I was just running on a random street and someone started running behind me. Then there was a crowded sidewalk but someone started running behind me and I looked back
"Nico’s obviously seen me on the road as he’s going through somewhere in London/ He's jumped out [of his car] and run alongside me.
"We stopped and had a chat for a bit there. That’s the first time that I’ve seen him," he noted.
Whether or not the two will meet up again in Monaco and finally bury any remaining hatchets remains to be seen.
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