2016 Formula 1 champion Nico Rosberg has revealed he was a rare German who didn’t support Michael Schumacher growing up.
Every year the sport returns to Hockenheim, it is hard not to remember the sight of the stadium section as a sea of Ferrari red, cheering on their hero.
Indeed, the seven-time champion created a buzz in his homeland that has proven very difficult to replicate since.
“Schumacher was a huge inspiration for an entire generation,” Rosberg told Welt. “His dedication to the sport, his passion and commitment were phenomenal.
“However, I was rooting for his opponent, Mika Hakkinen. So I was not the Schumacher fan growing up.”
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There is some irony in Rosberg backing the Finn against his nation’s biggest star, particularly as the son of another Finnish world champion in Keke Rosberg.
However, the former Mercedes driver would later find out first-hand what is was like to be in Hakkinen’s position as he went up against Schumacher for three years at the German manufacturer.
“As a teammate, I learned so much from him,” Nico admits.
“That certainly helped me to become world champion myself later. I mainly learnt how to gain respect within a team. What position you have to take and how to be a ‘team player’.
“Those are the most important things I learned from him.”
