Nico Rosberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Nico Rosberg
Rosberg in 2016
Born	Nico Erik Rosberg (1985-06-27) 27 June 1985 (age 39) Wiesbaden, West Germany
Spouse(s)	Vivian Sibold ​ (m. 2014)​
Children	2
Parent(s)	Keke Rosberg (father)
Formula One World Championship career
Nationality	German
Active years	2006–2016
Teams	Williams, Mercedes
Car number	6
Entries	206 (206 starts)
Championships	1 (2016)
Wins	23
Podiums	57
Career points	1594.5
Pole positions	30
Fastest laps	20
First entry	2006 Bahrain Grand Prix
First win	2012 Chinese Grand Prix
Last win	2016 Japanese Grand Prix
Last entry	2016 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
Signature

Nico Erik Rosberg (born 27 June 1985) is a German and Finnish former racing driver and businessman. He raced in Formula One from 2006 to 2016. Rosberg won the Formula One World Drivers' Championship in 2016 with the Mercedes team. He won 23 Grand Prix races during his 11 seasons.

Nico is the only child of Keke Rosberg, who was the Formula One World Champion in 1982. His mother is German. Nico was born in Wiesbaden, Germany, but grew up mostly in Monaco. He started kart racing at age six and quickly became successful. He won championships in France and Europe. At 16, he moved to car racing. He won nine races to become the champion of the 2002 Formula BMW ADAC Championship. Later, he won the first-ever GP2 Series championship in 2005.

Rosberg first joined Formula One with the Williams team from 2006 to 2009. He finished on the podium twice for Williams in 2008. In 2010, he moved to Mercedes. His teammate was Michael Schumacher, a seven-time World Champion. Rosberg got his first win at the 2012 Chinese Grand Prix Grand Prix. From 2013 to 2016, he was teammates with his childhood karting friend, Lewis Hamilton. Rosberg finished second to Hamilton twice. In his final season, 2016, he beat Hamilton to win the championship. Nico and his father Keke are only the second father-son duo to both win Formula One World Championships. The first were Graham Hill and Damon Hill.

Rosberg announced his retirement from racing just five days after winning the title. He said he wanted to spend more time with his family. He also didn't want his driving skills to get worse. In total, he started 206 Grand Prix races. He achieved 23 wins, 30 pole positions, 20 fastest laps, and 57 podium finishes. After retiring, Rosberg became a driver manager, a TV expert, and an eco-entrepreneur. He received the Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year and was added to the FIA Hall of Fame in 2017.

Life and Education

The beautiful country of Monaco, where Nico Rosberg grew up.

Nico Rosberg was born on June 27, 1985, in Wiesbaden, Germany. His father, Keke Rosberg, was a Finnish racing driver who won the 1982 Formula One World Championship. His mother, Gesine "Sina" Rosberg, is German. Because of his parents, Nico is a citizen of both Finland and Germany. He raced with a Finnish license at first. Later, he switched to a German license. He felt it would be easier to get big sponsors from a larger country.

Rosberg spent his first few weeks in Wiesbaden. After that, he lived mostly in Monaco and on the Spanish island of Ibiza. He went to international schools in Nice and Monaco. His parents encouraged him to do well in both school and sports. He learned five languages: English, French, German, Italian, and Spanish. He didn't learn Finnish or Swedish because his father thought other languages would be more useful for his career. Nico enjoyed math and science. He passed all his school exams except history. He graduated in 2002 with excellent grades.

Rosberg married Vivian Sibold, an interior designer, in Monaco on July 11, 2014. They have two daughters, Alaïa (born 2015) and Naila (born 2017). They also own an ice cream shop in Ibiza. Nico is a fan of the German football club FC Bayern Munich. He used to play for the Monaco national tennis team and competed in triathlon events. Once, he even saved a five-year-old child from drowning in Monaco.

Early Racing Days (1991–2005)

Karting Adventures (1991–2001)

When Nico was four, his father took him to a go-kart track in Ibiza. This was his first time driving. He steered a Jeep while his father controlled the speed. Rosberg started competitive racing at age six. He decided he wanted to be a Formula One driver after watching his father race in 1995. His parents supported his dream, as long as he kept up his good grades in school. Nico's strong desire to win and his early success in karting helped convince his father to manage his career.

In 1996, Rosberg won the Côte d'Azur Mini-Kart Regional Championship. He also won the Trophee Jérôme Bernard and the Trophee de France in 1997. At 12, he was the youngest champion of a French national karting series. In 1998, he moved to European karting championships. He finished fifth in one race and seventh in another. In 1999, he was second in the Italian Junior Karting Championship.

In late 1999, Nico's father asked kart manufacturer Dino Chiesa to create a special karting team for Nico and another young driver, Lewis Hamilton. Rosberg raced for TeamMBM.com in 2000. He finished second in the European KF1 Championship. He ended his karting career in 2001, finishing third in a race in Kerpen.

Moving to Cars (2001–2005)

Nico Rosberg in his 2002 Formula BMW ADAC championship-winning car.

At 16, Rosberg started racing cars. In 2002, he drove for VIVA Racing in the 2002 Formula BMW ADAC Championship. He won the title with nine victories out of twenty races. Because he won, Rosberg got to test a Williams FW24 Formula One car on December 3. At that time, he was the youngest person ever to drive a Formula One car.

In 2003, Rosberg moved to the Formula 3 Euro Series with Team Rosberg. He won one race and had five podium finishes, ending up eighth in the championship. In November 2003, he tested a Formula 3000 car. He also tested for Williams twice in late 2003 and early 2004.

He stayed with Team Rosberg for the 2004 Formula 3 Euro Series. He won the first two races of the season. He had one more victory and three podium finishes. Rosberg finished fourth in the championship. He later crashed out of the lead in the 2004 Macau Grand Prix.

Before the 2005 season, Rosberg was accepted into Imperial College London to study aeronautical engineering. However, he decided not to go to university so he could focus completely on his racing career. For the first-ever GP2 Series season in 2005, Rosberg joined ART Grand Prix. He paid about £850,000 to race for the team.

Rosberg won his first GP2 race at Circuit de Nevers Magny-Cours. He also won races at Silverstone Circuit and the Hockenheimring. He took the championship lead after finishing third at Spa-Francorchamps. Rosberg kept his lead and won both races at the final round in Bahrain. He claimed the first GP2 Series title with 120 points.

Formula One Career (2005–2016)

Starting with Williams (2005–2009)

2005: Test Driver

In April 2005, Williams signed Rosberg as their second test driver. He worked with the team's test and reserve driver, Antônio Pizzonia. Rosberg also focused on his GP2 Series racing. When race driver Nick Heidfeld was injured, Rosberg was considered to replace him for the last two races. However, Williams chose Pizzonia instead. They didn't want to risk slowing down Rosberg's career if he didn't perform well.

2006–2007: First Races

Nico Rosberg racing at the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix Grand Prix.

Bernie Ecclestone, who ran Formula One, told Williams team boss Frank Williams that signing Rosberg would be good for the sport. In October 2005, Williams told Rosberg he would have a role with the team in 2006. The next month, Rosberg signed a five-year contract with Williams. Frank Williams chose him for his driving skills and his understanding of Formula One technology.

Rosberg was paid £500,000 by Williams. He was the first son of a former world champion to race in Formula One since Damon Hill in 1999. To get ready, he scored the highest ever on Williams's Engineering Aptitude Test. This test checks a driver's knowledge of car mechanics. At the first race of 2006 in Bahrain, Rosberg scored his first points by finishing seventh. He also set the fastest lap, becoming the youngest driver to do so at the time. One week later, in Malaysia, he started third but his engine failed. He scored points again at the European Grand Prix. He finished 17th in the championship with 4 points.

Nico Rosberg driving at the 2007 British Grand Prix Grand Prix.

For 2007, Rosberg's teammate was the more experienced Alexander Wurz. Nico's performances got much better. Williams had made changes and hired more experienced people. His FW29 car was more reliable. He felt more confident setting up the car. Rosberg also learned to control his emotions better. He often qualified ahead of Wurz and scored points seven times. His best finish was fourth at the final race in Brazil. Rosberg scored 20 points and finished ninth in the championship.

His good driving made other teams interested in him for 2008. McLaren offered Williams a lot of money to sign Rosberg, but Williams said no. Rosberg's contract was extended to the end of 2009. He told Williams he wanted to stay if they could give him a competitive car.

2008–2009: More Podiums

Nico Rosberg racing in the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix Grand Prix.

In 2008, Rosberg was the more experienced driver on his team. His teammate was Williams test driver Kazuki Nakajima. Rosberg started the season by finishing third at the Australian Grand Prix. This was his first podium finish. After that, his season was difficult because the FW30 car wasn't fast enough. Williams also didn't improve the car quickly. Rosberg sometimes made mistakes that cost him points. He finished 13th in the championship with 17 points.

Nico Rosberg competing at the 2009 British Grand Prix Grand Prix.

Rosberg was again teammates with Nakajima for the 2009 season. He lost some body weight to help with the car's new weight limit. Rosberg had a better season. The Williams FW31 car had a special "double diffuser system" that gave it an early speed advantage. However, the team couldn't keep up with developing the car. He finished in the points in 16 out of 17 races. His best results were fourth at the German and Hungarian Grand Prix. He scored 34.5 points and finished seventh in the championship.

Joining Mercedes (2010–2016)

2010–2012: First Win

Nico Rosberg at the start of the 2010 Malaysian Grand Prix Grand Prix.

In 2009, Mercedes-Benz asked Rosberg about driving for them in 2010. This was after Mercedes bought the Brawn GP team. Rosberg also talked to McLaren and Williams. On October 29, he confirmed he was leaving Williams. A week later, Mercedes bought Brawn GP and hired Rosberg. He was teammates with seven-time world champion Michael Schumacher. Rosberg was worried that Schumacher would take over the team. He felt that Schumacher often tried to show who was in charge.

Rosberg finished third at the Malaysian, Chinese, and British Grand Prix. He scored points in most races. He often finished higher than he qualified. He was better than Schumacher at handling the car's problems. The MGP W01 car was slower than others. Rosberg finished seventh in the championship with 142 points. His driving showed he was a consistent and fast driver.

Nico Rosberg testing at the Circuito de Jerez in February 2011.

Rosberg stayed with Mercedes for 2011. He had a mixed season. He led races but the MGP W02 car wore out its tires quickly. This made the car less competitive. Rosberg was consistent in qualifying, often starting ahead of Schumacher. He didn't finish higher than fifth in any race. He was seventh in the championship with 89 points.

Nico Rosberg driving at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix Grand Prix.

In November 2011, Rosberg signed a new contract to stay at Mercedes until after 2013. He believed Mercedes would improve and win races. Three-time world champion Niki Lauda started advising Rosberg. At the Chinese Grand Prix, the third race of the season, Rosberg got his first pole position and his first win! He then finished second at the Monaco Grand Prix. Rosberg was seen as a possible contender for the championship. However, he struggled with tire temperature later in the season. He finished ninth in the championship with 93 points.

2013–2016: World Champion

Nico Rosberg took his third career victory at the 2013 British Grand Prix Grand Prix.

Before the 2013 season, Lewis Hamilton, the 2008 world champion, joined Mercedes as Rosberg's teammate. Mercedes treated both drivers equally. Rosberg visited the Mercedes factory often. He was very interested in the F1 W04 car's technology and helped the team develop it.

Rosberg often qualified higher than Hamilton and finished more races. At the Malaysian Grand Prix, Mercedes told him to stay behind Hamilton, which he didn't like. Rosberg then led every lap from pole position to win the Monaco Grand Prix. He became the first son of a world champion to win that race. He then won the British Grand Prix for his third career victory. Rosberg finished sixth in the championship with 171 points and three pole positions. His results earned him more respect in Formula One.

Nico Rosberg during practice for the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix Grand Prix.

Rosberg continued to drive for Mercedes in 2014 with Lewis Hamilton. Many thought he could win the championship because Mercedes had developed a great F1 W05 Hybrid car. Rosberg won the Australian Grand Prix to lead the championship. He finished second in the next four races. However, Hamilton won four races in a row, taking the lead from Rosberg. Rosberg won the Monaco Grand Prix again. He also won in Austria and Germany. A problem with his car in Singapore cost him the points lead. Rosberg then had four podium finishes in a row. He won the Brazilian Grand Prix, meaning the championship would be decided at the final race in Abu Dhabi. He needed to win the race with Hamilton finishing third or lower. Hamilton was ahead, and Rosberg's car had a problem, so he didn't score points. He finished second in the championship with 317 points.

Nico Rosberg at the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix Grand Prix.

Rosberg stayed with Mercedes for 2015. He worked on improving his physical fitness. After four podium finishes in the first four races, he won in Spain, Monaco, and Austria. He had some retirements and errors that stopped him from winning the championship. However, he won the final three races in Mexico, Brazil, and Abu Dhabi. He also got six pole positions in a row. He finished second in the championship with 322 points.

Before the 2016 season, Rosberg focused on his family and winning the next race. He changed his racing gloves to improve his starts. He even removed paint from his helmet to make it lighter. He hired a mental trainer to become more aggressive. He also spent his free time go-karting to stay sharp. Rosberg avoided Facebook for five months. He studied philosophy and meditated to stay focused. He worked closely with Mercedes mechanics and his sports psychologist. He felt confident and wanted to beat Hamilton more often.

Nico Rosberg competing at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix Grand Prix.

He started the 2016 season very strong, winning the first four races. He led Hamilton by 43 points, though Hamilton had some car problems. Rosberg and Hamilton crashed at the Spanish Grand Prix. Hamilton then took the championship lead for the next eight races. During the summer break, Mercedes chairman Niki Lauda visited Rosberg to help him regain his confidence. Rosberg changed his diet and stopped cycling to lose muscle. He went on to win in Belgium, Singapore, and Japan. He also had three second-place finishes in a row. He went into the final race in Abu Dhabi leading Hamilton by 12 points.

To win the championship, Rosberg needed to finish at least third, even if Hamilton won. He won the championship by five points by finishing second. He had to resist Hamilton's attempts to slow him down and let other drivers pass him. Rosberg became the second son of a former world champion to win the title. He wrote a book called Finally about the 2016 season. In total, Rosberg raced in 206 races. He won 23, got 30 pole positions, had 57 podium finishes, and scored 1594.5 championship points.

Life After Racing (2016–present)

Rosberg X Racing

Founded	October 2020; 4 years ago (2020-10)
Folded	28 December 2024; 5 months ago (2024-12-28)
Former series	Extreme E
Noted drivers	Molly Taylor
Current drivers	Johan Kristoffersson Mikaela Åhlin-Kottulinsky
Teams' Championships	2 (2021, 2023)
Drivers' Championships	2 (2021, 2023)
Website	https://www.rosbergxracing.com/

Nico Rosberg holding the 2016 Formula One World Drivers' Championship trophy.

Rosberg had signed a contract to stay with Mercedes until 2018. However, he started thinking about retiring after the 2016 Japanese Grand Prix. He talked about it with his wife, Vivian, twice before the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. He decided to retire before the race even started. After the race, he told Vivian and his manager. Then he called Mercedes team boss Toto Wolff. He didn't tell Wolff in person because he was worried about his reaction. At an award ceremony in Vienna on December 2, 2016, five days after winning the championship, he announced his retirement. Rosberg said he had reached the "pinnacle" of his career. He wanted to spend more time with his young family. He was the first reigning champion to retire from Formula One since Alain Prost in 1993. Valtteri Bottas replaced Rosberg at Mercedes.

After retiring, Rosberg became an eco-entrepreneur. He invests in businesses that help the environment and society. He visited Silicon Valley to learn about electric and self-driving cars. In July 2017, he visited the headquarters of the all-electric Formula E racing series. He became very interested in electric vehicles. In early 2018, Rosberg became a long-term investor in Formula E. He has invested in many new technology and electric vehicle companies, mainly in Europe. He helped start the annual Greentech Festival in February 2019. This event shows off sustainable technologies from around the world in Berlin. In late 2019, he became an investor on the German TV show Die Höhle der Löwen (The Lions' Cave). In 2022, Rosberg started a non-profit organization called Rosberg Philanthropies. It focuses on protecting the environment and helping children.

In October 2017, Rosberg joined Team Rosberg as an adviser for their sports car racing team. He also joined the management team of racing driver Robert Kubica in September. Rosberg helped Kubica try to return to Formula One after a serious accident. He reduced his involvement with Kubica in April 2018 to focus on his business career. Since 2018, Rosberg has worked as a TV expert for Formula One races. He explains things clearly to viewers. That same year, Rosberg co-founded the Rosberg Young Drivers Academy. This academy helps find and support young go-kart drivers. In April 2019, Rosberg turned down an offer to race in the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM) series. He didn't feel fit enough to return to racing.

In late 2020, he created Rosberg X Racing (RXR). This team races in Extreme E, an all-electric SUV off-road racing series. He joined the series because he wanted to help fight climate change. RXR won the first Extreme E constructors' title in 2021. Their drivers, Johan Kristoffersson and Molly Taylor, also won the drivers' championship. The team almost won again in 2022, finishing second to Lewis Hamilton's team. In December 2024, Rosberg announced that RXR would stop racing in Extreme E.

Rosberg has a YouTube channel where he shares videos. He also hosts a podcast called "Beyond Victory." On his podcast, he talks about human performance and development with his guests.

Personality and Driving Style

Journalists describe Rosberg as clear and precise when he speaks. He is careful with his words. He has been called "Britney" by his Williams teammates because of his blonde hair. In private, Rosberg is shy and quiet. He has a dry and sarcastic sense of humor. People have also called him charming, smart, focused, and good for photos. Rosberg likes to be challenged and enjoys reading books to learn more. He grew up in Monaco, which is a very international place. He speaks many languages. Because of this, he calls himself an "International German."

Nico Rosberg practicing for the 2014 British Grand Prix.

Throughout his career, Rosberg worked very hard. He talked a lot with engineers and mechanics. He studied each race track carefully. Formula One experts saw Rosberg as one of the most promising new stars. At first, people compared him to his father, Keke. This comparison became less common as his career went on. He didn't like to talk about it with the press. When he was teammates with Michael Schumacher, Rosberg was very careful about what he said to the media. He worried they might misunderstand him.

Rosberg had a scientific and technical driving style. He liked to fine-tune his car in great detail. He would change his driving to match these adjustments, especially for one fast lap. He preferred his car to oversteer rather than understeer. He didn't have a flashy driving style. Rosberg was good at handling technical problems with his car. Will Buxton, a racing expert, said Rosberg was "quick from the outset" and "effortlessly rapid." He also noted Rosberg's "metronomic" precision.

Helmet Design and Car Number

For the 2014 season, Formula One allowed drivers to choose a unique car number for their whole career. Rosberg chose number six. This was because it was his wife's and father's lucky number. He also changed his helmet color from yellow to dark grey after eight years. The new design included chrome, some Buddhist symbols, and clean lines. It was designed by Jens Munser.

Sponsorships and Helping Others

Creative Artists Agency (CAA) helps Rosberg with his business deals. He worked with the jewelry brand Thomas Sabo and the travel accessory maker Tumi. Rosberg signed many deals with companies like Rolex, International Watch Company, Oris, Continental Tire, Hugo Boss, Hot Wheels, Deutsche Bahn, Sky Sports, and RTL. Because of his sponsorships and Mercedes salary, Forbes listed him as one of the world's highest-paid athletes in 2016.

Rosberg is an ambassador for Mercedes-Benz, Laureus, the investment bank UBS, and the electric car company Schaeffler Group. He also supports the Tribute to Bambi Foundation. Rosberg raised €160,900 for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation. He did this as part of a campaign where €100 was donated for every kilometer he led in a Formula One race in 2015.

In 2012, Rosberg teamed up with the children's charity Ein Herz für Kinder (German: A Heart for Children). He has raised money for them through different events. Rosberg has also worked for the Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli charity. This group helps provide water and sanitation to people in developing countries. In June 2020, Rosberg donated €10,000 to the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund. This was to help their work in educating people about racism. He has also invested money in projects that involve planting trees in Germany. He supports sustainable farming in South America.

Awards and Achievements

On June 5, 2011, Rosberg received the Lorenzo Bandini Trophy. This award honors drivers for their dedication and achievements in motor racing. At the 2014 Brazilian Grand Prix, he won the first FIA Pole Trophy. He won it for getting 11 pole positions, more than any other driver in 2014. Rosberg also won the DHL Fastest Lap Award in 2016. He recorded seven fastest laps, more than anyone else that season.

Rosberg won several other awards:

• The Bambi Best Sportsman Award in 2014.
• The Sport Bild Special Award in 2014.
• The 2016 BRDC Johnny Wakefield Trophy for the fastest race lap at Silverstone.
• The Autosport International Racing Driver Award in 2016.
• The 2016 ADAC Motorsportsman of the Year Award.
• The 2017 Laureus World Sports Award for Breakthrough of the Year.
• The DMSB Cup from the German Motor Sport Federation in 2017.
• The 2018 Special Prize Entrepreneur of the Year at the GreenTec Awards.

Rosberg was inducted into the FIA Hall of Fame in December 2017.

Racing Record Summary

Career Summary

Images for kids

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  Rosberg in 2016

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  Nico Rosberg signature

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  The beautiful country of Monaco, where Nico Rosberg grew up.

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  Nico Rosberg in his 2002 Formula BMW ADAC championship-winning car.

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  Nico Rosberg racing at the 2006 Canadian Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg driving at the 2007 British Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg racing in the 2008 Monaco Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg competing at the 2009 British Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg at the start of the 2010 Malaysian Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg testing at the Circuito de Jerez in February 2011.

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  Nico Rosberg driving at the 2012 Malaysian Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg took his third career victory at the 2013 British Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg during practice for the 2014 Singapore Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg at the 2015 Japanese Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg competing at the 2016 Monaco Grand Prix.

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  Nico Rosberg holding the 2016 Formula One World Drivers' Championship trophy.

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  Nico Rosberg practicing for the 2014 British Grand Prix.

^† Driver failed to finish the race but was classified since he had completed more than 90% of the race distance.
^‡ Half points awarded because less than 75% of race distance was completed.

See also

In Spanish: Nico Rosberg para niños