When your father is a former World Champion, what are the chances you will make it to the sport too? Very high, indeed! But chances of success in the sport are not guaranteed. Nico Rosberg surely knows that. Although Keke was a Finn, Nico races under the German flag thanks to his mother’s nationality.

Nico started his career with karting in 1996 at the age of just 11. He then made the move up to German Formula BMW in 2002 and was the youngest ever to drive a Formula 1 car when at 18, he test drove for Williams BMW.

That motor sport is in his blood was proved beyond doubt when he scored the highest ever in an ‘Engineering Aptitude Test’ that is now a must for all new Williams drivers. Nico was soon confirmed as a driver for the 2006 season. And he shone in just his first race.

Driving in the opening GP of the year in Bahrain, he recorded the fastest lap in a car that was not thought good enough to make the points. Rosberg not only made the points, but also sent out a message that was loud and clear. He managed only one more points finish in the year in the European GP by when the car’s reliability had given way. He had to retire from half the races he started. But 4 points in a bad car for a rookie season isn’t too bad.

Although a lot of hopes rest on him and he is quietly confident of his chances, he chooses to remain firmly grounded. “The good old days are damn good old days and in F1 you cannot normally just jump back to the front from one year to the next,” he says.

2007 may not have been the best debut, but 2008 saw Rosberg come into his own and put up some great performances despite a sub-par car at his disposal. A third-place finish in Australia raised hopes, but the car soon came through on its lack of promise and held Rosberg back. Another podium finish in Singapore did highlight the capability of this young driver, but 13 races had passed in between and just three had yielded points.

Rosberg has it in his genes to succeed. He needs a car that is reliable and has some pace. The Williams is promising this for 2009. Can they come through for him?