Rosberg announced his retirement from F1 five days after winning maiden title.
Rosberg won his maiden F1 title beating Hamilton by five points.
Rosberg retirement leaves German giant chasing a replacement.
Rosberg's sudden retirement leaves a vacant spot at the summit of F1.
Hamilton finished second in the 2016 world drivers' championship standings.
Rosberg announced his shock retirement from F1 on Friday.
Rosberg announced his retirement from F1 days after winning his first title.
Hamilton will be looking to win his fourth formula one title next season.
Three-time world champion appears unconcerned over the identity of his next Mercedes teammate.
German announced decision to leave F1 just five days on from winning championship.
Mercedes driver has become the first reigning champion to retire since Alain Prost in 1993.
Mercedes star calls it quits just days after clinching maiden world title in Abu Dhabi.
Rosberg claimed his maiden F1 title with second place at the season ending Abu Dhabi GP.
Germany will not host F1 race, with Malaysia and Singapore switching places in the 2017 calendar.
Nico Rosberg won his first F1 world title championship in 2016.
Hamilton went against Mercedes F1 team's instructions during Abu Dhabi GP.
Lance Stroll will replace Massa in the Williams line-up for the 2017 season.
Mercedes boss eager to find a solution after British driver's contentious tactics in 2016 season finale.
Nico's father Keke Rosberg is also a former F1 title champion.
Hamilton finished second on the driver's standings, five points behind champion Nico Rosberg.
Rosberg was less than half a second behind winner Hamilton.
Hamilton starts on pole at the season-ending championship decider at Abu Dhabi.
The Brit's Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg will start the race in second position on the grid.
Lewis Hamilton was fastest in both practice sessions with Rosberg in second place.
Hamilton has 355 points to his name while Rosberg has 367 points.
The Formula One season goes down to the wire in Abu Dhabi this weekend.
Hamilton comes into the season-ending Abu Dhabi GP placed second in the drivers standings.
The 36-year-old has no intention of racing in 2017 or 2018 despite being contracted to McLaren.
Rosberg has a 12-point lead over Hamilton going into the final race of the season.
IBTimes UK looks at how reigning world champion can overhaul Nico Rosberg's 12-point lead in Abu Dhabi.