Latest News / Interview

The First Time - with Mercedes' Nico Rosberg

22 Apr 2014

Nico Rosberg has experienced a number of ‘firsts’ in 2014 - not only did he win the first race of the new V6 turbo era, but he also leads the world championship for the first time in his career. Therefore, as we continue our series that aims to help you get to know the world’s greatest drivers a little better, we thought it was the perfect time to ask the 28-year-old German to reveal some of the other ‘firsts’ in his life…

Who was your first hero when you were a child?

Nico Rosberg: Hero would be too much, but the person I supported was Mika Hakkinen.

What was the first Grand Prix you can remember watching?

NR: That was 1989, the Monaco Grand Prix - watching Ayrton Senna. I slept on a boat in the harbour. I woke up in the morning from the engine noise, when Senna came out of the tunnel. Very impressive.

How old were you when you first decided you wanted to be an F1 driver?

NR: I was around ten years old and watching my dad driving in his last DTM race. On the farewell lap I sat with him on the roof of his car driving through the motodrome. That was when I thought that becoming a race driver could be the right thing for me as well.

When was your first big accident in a race car?

NR: It was in go-karting. I was six years old and racing at the kart track in Ibiza. I had cold tyres and somersaulted…

What colour was your first helmet?

NR: The same as my dad’s: blue, white and yellow.

When did you win your first trophy in racing and what did it look like?

NR: I was ten years old and it was a south of France regional championship - but sorry, no idea what it looked like!

What was the first road car you drove?

NR: A 1979 Ford Laredo when I was four years old and living on Ibiza. I drove it on my own!

Where was the first house you lived in?

NR: Ibiza, that was my first home.

How nervous were you on your first day of school?

NR: Pretty nervous - there are all these other children and you don’t know anybody...

What was the first meal you ever cooked?

NR:It was pasta with fried eggs when I was still going to school.

What was the first thing you did this morning?

NR: Switched off my alarm because I woke up before it. And the next important thing that I did was weigh myself, as weight is such an important thing in F1 these days.

What was the first thing you did after getting your first seat in F1 racing?

NR: It was Frank Williams who told me in the garage in Monza. Of course, I was very excited and immediately called my family.

What was the first record you bought?

NR: Elton John’s Lion King soundtrack.

What was the first sport you participated in as a kid?

NR: Definitely tennis. I started when I was four years old in Ibiza.

How old were you when you had your first romantic kiss?

NR: When I was 12 years old - shy and innocent…

When was the first time you were asked to sign an autograph for a fan?

NR: I was ten years old and it was at the Helsinki DTM race. The fan said: “You never know…” (laughs)

When did you first taste champagne?

NR: At my third birthday - on a boat.

Which would you eat first - a piece of fruit or a piece of chocolate?

NR: I would prefer the chocolate - but nowadays you have to prefer the fruit!

What was the first word you said as a baby?

NR: Would it a surprise for me to say I don’t know? I cannot remember. (laughs)