Williams Barcelona test notes 2002-12-03
It was to be an unforgettable experience for up-and-coming young racing driver Nico Rosberg. On Tuesday afternoon the Finn embarked on his first Formula One test drive in ideal conditions on the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona: Nico Rosberg, ...

It was to be an unforgettable experience for up-and-coming young racing driver Nico Rosberg. On Tuesday afternoon the Finn embarked on his first Formula One test drive in ideal conditions on the Circuit de Catalunya near Barcelona: Nico Rosberg, born on 27 June 1985 in Wiesbaden (GER), is the youngest driver ever to take part in a Formula One test drive. The son of ex-Formula One World Champion, Keke Rosberg, completed 38 4.73- kilometre laps in the FW24 of the BMW WilliamsF1 Team. He claimed a personal best time of 1:21.070 minutes on lap 29.
Nico Rosberg, who left a very positive impression with the Team, was bubbling over with excitement. "It was sensational. Now I don't want to drive anything else. I want to say a big thank you to BMW and WilliamsF1. The first laps were like a game with a playstation -- everything went so fast and seemed so unreal. My father had advised me not to attempt too much and just enjoy the whole experience. I think I managed to do that quite well." Keke Rosberg was at the trackside with friends watching his son's F1 debut.
Asked about the physical demands of such a drive, Rosberg Junior, who had clocked up just one season in the 140 bhp Formula BMW before venturing out in the FW24 with almost 900 horsepower, replied: "You can forget about all your neck exercises -- the forces in an F1 are just too great. Your arms are put under extreme strain as well."
Rosberg had been granted this test as a reward for his achievements as winner of the Formula BMW ADAC Championship 2002. He had secured nine victories out of 20 races in a field of 28 drivers from nine countries.
Dirk Müller (GER) was another BMW driver taking his test drive in the morning. The seasoned touring car works driver had been given the test in recognition of his achievements in the European Touring Car Championship (ETCC). He completed 45 laps with a best time of 1:21.605 minutes and was equally elated.
"For me a huge dream has come true," said the grateful 27-year-old. "I'm deeply impressed by the incredible power of the BMW engine. Its pulling power is absolutely awesome. I didn't come close to exhausting the potential of the Formula One brakes and lost a lot of time as a result. Lateral acceleration, too, is even more impressive than I had expected. Despite two weeks of intense training, my neck started hurting far too early. Even so, it was the icing on the cake of my racing experiences."
-williams-
About this article
Series | Formula 1 |
Drivers | Nico Rosberg , Dirk Muller , Keke Rosberg |
Teams | Williams |
Williams Barcelona test notes 2002-12-03
Trending
How Do Drivers Stay Fit For F1 Grand Prix?
Ronnie Peterson and Jochen Rindt Tribute
#ThinkingForward with Juan Pablo Montoya
The delay that quashed Aston Martin’s last F1 venture
Aston Martin’s only previous foray into Formula 1 in the late 1950s was a short-lived and unsuccessful affair. But it could have been so different, says Nigel Roebuck.
Verstappen exclusive: Why lack of titles won't hurt Red Bull's ace
Max Verstappen’s star quality in Formula 1 is clear. Now equipped with a Red Bull car that is, right now, the world title favourite and the experience to support his talent, could 2021 be the Dutchman’s year to topple the dominant force of Lewis Hamilton and Mercedes?
Is Formula 1 as good as it has ever been now?
For many, many years Formula 1 has strived to do and to be better on all fronts. With close competition, a growing fanbase, a stable political landscape and rules in place to encourage sustainability, 2021 is on course to provide an unexpected peak
How Williams’ new structure adheres to a growing F1 trend
Williams held out against the tide for many years but, as MARK GALLAGHER explains, the age of the owner-manager is long gone
When a journeyman driver's F1 career lasted just 800m
Nikita Mazepin’s Formula 1 debut at the Bahrain Grand Prix lasted mere corners before he wiped himself out in a shunt, but his financial backing affords him a full season. Back in 1993 though, Marco Apicella was an F1 driver for just 800m before a first corner fracas ended his career. Here’s the story of his very short time at motorsport’s pinnacle.
How Raikkonen's rapid rise stalled his teammate's F1 career climb
Kimi Raikkonen's emergence as a Formula 1 star in his rookie campaign remains one of the legendary storylines from 2001, but his exploits had an unwanted impact on his Sauber teammate's own prospects. Twenty years on from his first F1 podium at the Brazilian GP, here's how Nick Heidfeld's career was chilled by the Iceman.
The nightmare timing that now hinders Mercedes
Mercedes and Lewis Hamilton took victory at the Bahrain Grand Prix despite, for a change, not having the quickest car. But any hopes of developing its W12 to surpass Red Bull's RB16B in terms of outright speed could not have come at a worse time.
How Verstappen's Bahrain mistake can only make him stronger
Max Verstappen lost out to Lewis Hamilton at the Bahrain Grand Prix by a tiny margin, slipping off the track just as victory was within his grasp. But the painful lesson from defeat can only help Verstappen come back even stronger