Eipä tiedä kamreeri itsekään, mistä tulee? GP-mestarin haastattelusta valikoidut osat vuodelta `05...
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Nico Rosberg was born on June 27th, 1985, in Wiesbaden, Germany. The son of Finland's first Formula One World Champion Keijo "Keke" Rosberg (who won the title with Williams in 1982), Nico grew up in a cosmopolitan household. His mother Sina is German, and German is also the family's first language.
For all that, Nico Rosberg spent his childhood in French-speaking Monaco and attended the International School in Nice. This sort of background has made him into a citizen of the world, speaking fluent German, English, French, and Italian. But not Finnish.
Rosberg Jr.'s childhood has created for him an identity that he regards simply as "European".
"I've noticed that there is something missing, something that for instance the Brazilian drivers have when they come up to the podium to celebrate their victory with the Brazilian flag", says Rosberg.
"It would be nice if I felt the same way. When my win here was celebrated with the playing of the German national anthem, it felt kind of weird to me. I don't have that sense of belonging, either to Germany or to Finland. Maybe when I'm driving races I sort of feel a stronger pull towards Finland, since it reminds me of my father's achievements in the sport."
When Nico Rosberg he was driving in the German Formula BMW series in 2002, it was with a Finnish licence. But in GP2 he has raced under the German flag.
"I had to choose one of my nationalities. Since I am a driver who does not have any big corporate sponsors behind me, it is easier to get into Formula One if you are seen to come from a big country the size of Germany", says Rosberg.
"Still, it's a great situation that in Germany I'm regarded as German, and in Finland as a Finn. And it's quite right, too, since I am my father's son."
It does not unduly trouble him that his relationship with Finland is looser than for instance that of his GP2 rival Heikki Kovalainen.
"No, I'm a citizen of two countries, and I accept that for what it is."