Nico Rosberg
Nico Rosberg spent his entire career in the shadow of his childhood friend Lewis Hamilton, finally beat him to the world championship in 2016, and then retired from racing five days later. He speaks three languages, grew up between Finland and Monaco, and is now a successful tech investor and TV pundit.
6 Things You Might Not Know
Rosberg announced his retirement at the FIA Prize Giving Gala, just five days after clinching the 2016 world championship in Abu Dhabi. He said he had given everything he had to achieve the title and had nothing more to give. The speed of the decision surprised almost everyone in the sport. He was 31 years old and arguably approaching his peak, which made the decision more striking still.
Nico's father Keke Rosberg won the 1982 F1 world championship driving for Williams. This makes the Rosbergs one of only two father-son world champion pairs in F1 history (the other being the Hills — Graham and Damon). Keke was a regular presence at grands prix supporting Nico, and their relationship appears to have been warm and close, if also one shaped by very high expectations.
Rosberg was born in Germany but grew up between Monaco (where his father lived during his racing career) and Finland (his mother's country). He is fluent in German, English, and French, and understands Finnish. Growing up in Monaco gave him a perspective on the principality that's different from drivers who move there as adults — he actually knew it as home.
After retiring, Rosberg founded Rosberg Ventures, focused on sustainable technology investments. He invested in and advised multiple green tech startups and became a prominent voice on sustainable mobility and clean energy. He founded the Greentech Festival in Berlin, an annual event focused on sustainability and innovation, which has grown significantly since its launch.
Rosberg maintained his F1-level physical conditioning after retirement and began competing in triathlons. He has completed Ironman events and trained with the same structured approach he used during his racing career. Fitness remains a core part of his identity and daily routine.
Rosberg and Hamilton grew up racing together from karting and were close friends before their F1 rivalry became bitter. Rosberg has spoken and written about the personal sacrifice required to compete at championship level with someone he once considered a best friend. Their relationship during the 2014–2016 period included incidents that are still analysed by F1 fans. He has said the rivalry consumed him entirely — which is part of why he stopped.