F1 legend admits his health is failing in worrying update during rare interview
Time waits for no man and 76-year-old Keke Rosberg, famed in the Formula 1 world for winning the 1982 world title with Williams, admits his health is not as strong as it once was
Former Formula 1 champion Keke Rosberg has admitted his health is declining. In a rare interview the 1982 F1 title-winner, who is father to another champion of the sport in Nico Rosberg, has admitted he continues to suffer with Long Covid.
That is the term given to people who continue to suffer ill effects long after they have been infected by Covid-19. He never so much as broke a bone during his F1 career but, speaking to Finnish magazine Apu, the 76-year-old said the pandemic took a toll on his health.
"The post-corona period was a bit confusing as to whether this was caused by isolation, or whether there was some kind of post-corona disease when there was a lack of energy," he said. "Understanding of this Long Covid is still at zero level. There are a huge number of people who suffer badly from it."
Rosberg, who lives in Monaco in the same apartment building as his 2016 F1 champion son, also said he has recently received specialist treatment for problems with his eyes.
A combination of age and ongoing symptoms from his coronavirus infection during the pandemic have limited what Rosberg is able to do. He said: "I used to have a list of things that still need to be done. I still have one now, but it's a list of things that can't be done anymore."
Rosberg did not debut in F1 until 1978, when he was already 29 years old. And when he did get his shot, it was with minor outfits like Theodore, ARS and Wolf. He then signed with Fittipaldi Automotive, founded and run by double F1 champion Emerson Fittipaldi and his brother Wilson, but that car too was uncompetitive.
But he got his big break in 1982 with Williams, replacing the retired 1980 champion Alan Jones and, in his first season with the team, won the title. He did so as a result of consistently strong results, having only actually won one race all year.
It was, of course, the highlight of his own racing career. But more important to him, he says, was watching his son Nico complete the same achievement in 2016 at the end of a tense and bitter championship fight with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
He said: "The biggest thing was definitely Nico's championship. For me, that championship was just one milestone. For Nico, it wasn't like that. It was an important event. It was already a pretty big event in terms of family history. My championship in the family was mostly of interest to my father and mother."
Rosberg Jnr famously retired days after beating Hamilton to the crown, and that came as a shock to his father as much as it did to everyone else. Keke said: "He didn't say anything. Nico sent a text to his mother and said to tell his father later. It felt like a big fist to the diaphragm. Nico knew that if he started discussing it with me, then of course his father's opinion might be quite weighty, which he didn't want to listen to. That decision was difficult enough anyway."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Evening Standard
2 hours ago
- Evening Standard
British and Irish Lions tour 2025: Results, fixtures, schedule and squad
The Lions famously recorded their first series win since 1997 on their last trip to Australia under Warren Gatland in 2013, before battling to a draw in New Zealand four years later and then being pipped 2-1 by the reigning world champion Springboks in the Covid-impacted tour of South Africa back in 2021.
Business News Wales
6 hours ago
- Business News Wales
Breaking Barriers in Motorsport Engineering
Motorsport has been my passion for as long as I can remember, and I feel incredibly fortunate that it has also become my career. For the past 18 years, I've had the pleasure of lecturing in Motorsport Engineering at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD), and what a journey it has been. During that time, the field has evolved dramatically. We've seen rapid and sometimes groundbreaking technological advances, from significant improvements in simulation techniques to the development of hybrid powertrains. The role of an engineer has expanded and diversified and it's an incredibly exciting time to be part of this industry. However, one thing that hasn't changed enough is the number of women pursuing careers in motorsport engineering. Over the years, I've seen some incredibly talented young women enrol on our courses, graduate, and go on to have fulfilling careers. But until recently their numbers have been small, about 5 per cent compared to the men. For many years, I was the only woman in our motorsport department. I'm happy to say there are now two of us, but the wider industry still has work to do. This enduring imbalance raises an important question: why does the stereotype persist, and what can we do to change it? The old image of engineers covered in grease and wearing overalls is largely outdated. Today, engineering roles are diverse—some still involve hands-on work, which appeals to many, but others focus on software, data analysis, and simulation. You can thrive in this industry and still wear heels and have great nails if you want to! Motorsport is global, offering opportunities to travel, build international careers, and work with world-leading teams. It's an exciting, dynamic field with excellent pay, strong maternity benefits, and a real sense of camaraderie. You don't even have to be a 'petrol head' to succeed, although an aptitude for maths certainly helps! I was lucky. I grew up with a rally-mad father who was delighted when I chose motorsport, and an independent, feminist mother who constantly reminded me that 'women can do anything.' Add to that a few brilliant maths teachers at Llangatwg Comprehensive and St John Baptist School, and I had the support I needed to achieve my A-levels and secure a place at university. Since my school days, the curriculum has shifted to emphasise STEM subjects, helping to address the national skills shortage. But we can do more to support girls early on, encouraging them to stick with maths and science and helping them see engineering as an accessible and exciting career. Fantastic initiatives like F1 in Schools and Green Power are inspiring young people to dream big. Here at UWTSD, we're proud to support Girls on Track, Motorsport UK's programme that introduces school-aged girls to the diverse world of motorsport, from pit stop challenges to media and presenting roles. Change is happening. Women now make up 10 per cent of the workforce in motorsport and for the first time, we've achieved that same percentage on our motorsport programmes at UWTSD. To celebrate, we're running a series of activities to build a stronger community of female engineers, hoping to create a supportive network that encourages even more girls to consider this fantastic career. Last year marked the 25th anniversary of our BEng Motorsport Engineering Degree Programme, the first of its kind in the world. Thanks to the vision of former lecturer Roger Dowden who started the course and guidance from the Motorsport Industry Association, our graduates have become valuable assets in motorsport and high-performance automotive industries worldwide. Many have gone on to work for prestigious companies like McLaren, Gordon Murray, Bentley, Ford, Arc, and Toyota Gazoo Racing. Our close ties with industry advisors ensure that our course remains relevant, practical, and academically rigorous. This blend of theory and real-world application is our unique strength, and it makes our graduates stand out. I believe we're on the right track. By continuing to challenge stereotypes, build supportive communities, and celebrate the successes of women in motorsport, we can create a future where gender is no barrier to pursuing a thrilling, rewarding engineering career. And to all the young girls out there dreaming big: believe me when I say that you can do anything.
Glasgow Times
8 hours ago
- Glasgow Times
Rutherglen man who chucked bottle at Celtic goalkeeper jailed
Andrew Watt, 34, launched the missile at the Finnish international at Ibrox Stadium on May 4, 2025. Andrew Watt (Image: Mike Gibbons, Spindrift) Rangers drew 1-1 with the Scottish Premiership champions that afternoon. Watt initially threw a cigarette at Mr Sinisalo after Celtic scored their equaliser through striker Adam Idah. He then picked up a half bottle of Buckfast and hurled it at the goalkeeper, who celebrated the goal in front of the Rangers fans. The bottle was later handed to police officers by a Rangers substitute. Watt was identified the following day on CCTV due to his "distinctive white teeth." Watt pleaded guilty at Glasgow Sheriff Court to assaulting Mr Sinisalo. Sheriff Mark McGuire told Watt, of Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, that his actions were not of a "fan" but a "vicious drunken hooligan." (Image: PA) READ NEXT: Glasgow man threw incendiary device at window The sheriff added: "Your motive was victim blaming. You came to throw a bottle after he celebrated his team scoring an equaliser. "That is his job - your victim was doing his job - the man was at his work. In what possible world could you or anyone else think it is acceptable to throw a bottle at someone at his work? "Had the bottle hit him, the consequences could have been catastrophic, career-ending or worse. In a febrile atmosphere in a stadium which holds over 50,000 people, your actions could have sparked a riot. "It was not just an assault on Mr Sinisalo - what you did could have endangered everyone, man, woman and child that afternoon. "In all the circumstances, to punish you and deter others from acting like you did and to protect the public, I am satisfied there is no alternative to a custodial sentence." Watt was also banned from all football matches for a period of six-and-a-half years. The court heard that after Adam Idah scored, there was a VAR check on the goal to see if it would be allowed. After a two-to-three-minute stoppage, the referee awarded the equalising goal to Celtic. Prosecutor Leo McGinn said: "At that point, Mr Sinisalo turned back to his own goal towards the Rangers fans and pumped his fists. "This sparked an angry reaction from the Rangers fans behind the goal, and a half bottle of Buckfast was thrown in his direction. "The bottle did not strike him but landed on the field of play." READ NEXT: Update on finance firm's case against Rangers in Court of Session The bottle was handed over to police officers by a Rangers substitute, but the perpetrator was unknown at the time. A CCTV investigation was carried out by police the next day, which identified Watt as being responsible. Mr McGinn added: "He was seen to throw a lit cigarette in Mr Sinisalo's direction, which had not been spotted by officers. "Watt could be identified by his build and distinctive white teeth." Watt later handed himself in to police officers after he was aware that they were looking for him. Kevin Corr, defending, told the sentencing that Mr Sinisalo was "not gloating" before the assault took place. The lawyer added: "The stadium was tense at the time while the decision was being awarded. "My client had been consuming alcohol on the morning of the game and continued drinking during the match. "It was not a full half bottle of Buckfast as it was in the second half of the match. He knows that this is the behaviour of someone in their teens rather than someone in his mid-thirties - there is no attempt to minimise or justify what happened." The hearing was told that Watt has 21 previous convictions, which include two football-related matters from 2013 and 2015, the latter of which saw him jailed for 10 months with a three-year football ban.
