Keke Rosberg is unwell
For some years now, Keke Rosberg has withdrawn from public life, and the last time he was seen in the Formula 1 paddock was in 2018. It was a poignant moment, with father Keke and son Nico behind the wheels of the respective cars that had taken them to World Championship titles—namely, the 1982 Williams FW08 and the 2016 Mercedes W07. The laps took place just before the Monaco Grand Prix, a deliberate choice given that the family has resided in Monte Carlo since 1985.
The Finnish magazine APU360 managed to interview Keke Rosberg and discovered that the 76-year-old is currently going through a difficult period health-wise. The Finn is suffering from post-Covid syndrome, which is draining his energy and for which he has not been able to find a remedy. This was his account: “I have almost no energy left. I was so unlucky that I got stuck in Levi and ended up isolating for 70 days, fortunately with a friend.”
Rosberg contracted Covid-19 during a visit to Finland, but the illness left lasting effects: “The period after the virus was a bit confusing. It wasn’t clear whether this lack of energy was due to isolation or some kind of illness linked to post-Coronavirus. Understanding Long Covid is still at zero, and there are a huge number of people suffering from it severely.”
The former Williams and McLaren driver revealed he recently received specialist treatment for eye problems in Barcelona and that the situation has significantly reduced his quality of life: “I used to have a list of things I still wanted to do, and now it’s become a list of things I can no longer do,” the Formula 1 World Champion admitted with melancholy.
Keke Rosberg’s Career
Keijo Erik “Keke” Rosberg, born in Sweden but of Finnish nationality, started his Formula 1 journey relatively late, debuting at the age of 29 in 1978. After racing with several smaller teams such as Theodore, ATS, Wolf, and Fittipaldi, his breakthrough came with Williams. In 1982, Rosberg won the Formula 1 World Championship, despite claiming only one victory that season—in Dijon—demonstrating remarkable consistency. He was known for his aggressive driving style and charisma. He stayed with Williams until 1985, then moved to McLaren for his final season in the top category. After retiring from F1, he continued racing in other series such as sports cars and DTM. He later managed several drivers, including fellow Finns Mika Häkkinen and JJ Lehto, as well as his own son Nico, who went on to become the 2016 Formula 1 World Champion.
In Formula 1, Keke Rosberg can count one world title, 128 race starts, 5 Grand Prix wins, 17 podiums, 5 pole positions, and 3 fastest laps.
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