28/11/2016
NEWS STORY
Keke Rosberg believes his son's title win will boost his confidence for 2017 and beyond.
Yesterday's Abu Dhabi Grand Prix not only saw Nico Rosberg become the second driver in the history of the sport to emulate his father in winning the title, it also saw Stirling Moss regain his title as the winningest driver not to claim the crown.
In winning the title, 34 years after his father Keke became world champion, Nico joined Damon Hill as the only champion son of a champion.
Though he watched events unfurl from Dubai, hours after the race Keke joined his son as the celebrations got underway.
Speaking to reporters, the Finn said that finally getting the monkey off his back, in winning the title, Nico will be a stronger force in 2017 and beyond.
"I don't know if the dynamic changes, but a happy man performs better than an unhappy man," he said. "He is going to raise the game a little bit next year like everybody does when they win the championship. Jenson did it. I did it. And that probably will happen. It goes with the game."
The Finn, who in his title winning season (1982) only won one race, says he knew that his son would eventually win the title.
"I thought it would come," he said. "I had a rule when I came to Formula One; there are three things you want to achieve. You have to win your first race, you have to win Monaco, and you have to win the championship.
"That is what I said to Nico and now you can put a cross on it and say 'I have been there and done that'.
Check out our Sunday gallery from Abu Dhabi, here.