It's a tough F1 drive for Rosberg
It's a tough F1 drive for Rosberg
The debutant will be under pressure to emulate his illustrious father, Keke Rosberg who was the 1982 F1 World Champion.

London: Nico Rosberg has a mountain to climb before he can hope to emulate Damon Hill at Williams.

Comparisons are inevitable for the 20-year-old German, who will make his Formula One debut in March as the first son of a champion to start a Grand Prix since 1996 title winner Hill retired six years ago.

While Hill joined Williams in 1993 when the team was were world-beaters, Rosberg -- son of the 1982 Finnish champion Keke --cannot expect as much.

Williams did not win a race this year and have lost engine partner BMW and leading sponsor Hewlett-Packard and also switched over to Bridgestone from last season's dominant tyre provider Michelin.

Rosberg will still be in the limelight because of his name, as were Hill and Canadian Jacques Villeneuve when they first arrived. But he knows what to expect.

"I've been prepared for it a little bit throughout my career. They (people) have always been looking at me and comparing me to my dad and am I as good as him or am I not and things like that." Rosberg said.

"I've learned to live with it a little bit. It's just going to be there forever, that's the way it is and no problem."

Famous Fathers

Only a handful of sons of champions have followed their fathers into Formula One and Hill, son of the late 1962 and 1968 champion Graham, is the only one to have won the title.

Canadian Villeneuve was champion in 1997 but father Gilles, one of the most loved and thrilling of Ferrari drivers until his death at Zolder in Belgium in 1982, never captured the crown.

Apart from the Hills, the Villeneuves are the only other father and son racers to have won grands prix since the championship began in 1950.

Italian Alberto Ascari, champion in 1952 and 1953 with Ferrari, was the son of the pre-war grand prix ace Antonio who died in 1925.

Australian David Brabham, son of three times world champion Jack, started 24 times between 1990 and 1994 for Brabham and Simtek without scoring a point.

What's your reaction?

Comments

https://lamidix.com/assets/images/user-avatar-s.jpg

0 comment

Write the first comment for this!