Nico Rosberg celebrates his first victory for Mercedes in the Chinese Grand Prix. He is the third son of an F1 driver to win a race, following in the footsteps of father Keke.
Rosberg makes three —
Nico Rosberg celebrates his first victory for Mercedes in the Chinese Grand Prix. He is the third son of an F1 driver to win a race, following in the footsteps of father Keke.
AFP/Getty Images
Nico, who was born in Germany, gets some one-on-one advice from Finnish father Keke. Now 63, he won the world title in 1982 with Williams.
Learning from the best —
Nico, who was born in Germany, gets some one-on-one advice from Finnish father Keke. Now 63, he won the world title in 1982 with Williams.
Keke Rosberg won five races in total in a career that lasted nine seasons. He is pictured here during the 1985 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he retired from the race.
Sporting '80s style —
Keke Rosberg won five races in total in a career that lasted nine seasons. He is pictured here during the 1985 Brazilian Grand Prix, where he retired from the race.
Damon Hill is one of Britain's most succesful drivers, winning 22 races in an eight-season career spanning from 1992 to 1999. Here he holds the trophy high after winning the Belgian Grand Prix in 1993.
Damon Hill follows dad's path —
Damon Hill is one of Britain's most succesful drivers, winning 22 races in an eight-season career spanning from 1992 to 1999. Here he holds the trophy high after winning the Belgian Grand Prix in 1993.
He made history in 1996, when he won the world drivers' title to add to the championships Graham earned in 1962 and 1968 -- making them the only father and son to achieve the feat. Here Damon poses with a bronze bust of his late dad unveiled at Silverstone in 2008.
Hills make history —
He made history in 1996, when he won the world drivers' title to add to the championships Graham earned in 1962 and 1968 -- making them the only father and son to achieve the feat. Here Damon poses with a bronze bust of his late dad unveiled at Silverstone in 2008.
Graham Hill earned the nickname "Mr Monaco" after winning on the Principality's street circuit five times. His first of 14 wins came at the 1962 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
Mr. Monaco —
Graham Hill earned the nickname "Mr Monaco" after winning on the Principality's street circuit five times. His first of 14 wins came at the 1962 Dutch Grand Prix in Zandvoort.
The Hill family arrive at Graham's funeral at the Abbey of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, with Damon pictured left. The racing legend died on November 29, 1975, when the plane he was flying crashed in North London.
Tragic end for racing legend —
The Hill family arrive at Graham's funeral at the Abbey of St. Albans, Hertfordshire, with Damon pictured left. The racing legend died on November 29, 1975, when the plane he was flying crashed in North London.
Jacques Villeneuve showers the crowd with champagne after winning the1994 British Grand Prix. He became the first Canadian to win the world title three years later -- a feat his father Gilles could not manage.
Young Villeneuve toasts success —
Jacques Villeneuve showers the crowd with champagne after winning the1994 British Grand Prix. He became the first Canadian to win the world title three years later -- a feat his father Gilles could not manage.
AFP/Getty Images
Gilles Villeneuve, seen here with a young Jacques in 1974, died in 1982 during qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix. He was championship runner-up in 1979, having won his first race the year before at the Montreal circuit now named after him.
Baby steps for racing family —
Gilles Villeneuve, seen here with a young Jacques in 1974, died in 1982 during qualifying at the Belgian Grand Prix. He was championship runner-up in 1979, having won his first race the year before at the Montreal circuit now named after him.
F1 families: Like father, like son

Story highlights

Nico Rosberg wins Chinese Grand Prix, 30 years after father Keke won Swiss Grand Prix

He is the third son of an F1 driver to win a race, following the Hills and Villeneuves

Win is Nico's 111th race, hopefully paving the way for more victories

Nico's Finnish father was able to celebrate his win, unlike Graham Hill and Gilles Villeneuve

CNN  — 

It was a case of like father like son for Chinese Grand Prix winner Nico Rosberg, who followed in the footsteps of his famous parent on Sunday.

The 26-year-old Mercedes driver is the third son of a Formula One racer to win a race – achieving the feat 30 years after his father Keke claimed his first checkered flag at the Swiss Grand Prix.

They joined Britain’s Graham and Damon Hill and Canada’s Gilles and Jacques Villeneuve as the only father and son duos to triumph in the 62-year history of the sport.

Rosberg is hoping to build on his long-awaited first victory after heading off McLaren’s Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton in Shanghai.

“It’s amazing to have it,” the German said in a video blog on the team’s website after his 111th race as an F1 driver.

nat f1 shanghai circuit design tilke_00013724
nat f1 shanghai circuit design tilke_00013724
video

Related video Inside Shanghai's F1 circuit design

“It’s been a long time waiting and Niki Lauda (three-time world champion) said that the first win is the most difficult. After that it gets easier. So if that’s the way it goes that would be fantastic.”

Only four drivers in F1 history have waited longer to claim victory: Button (113), Jarno Trulli (117), Rubens Barrichello (124) and Mark Webber (131).

He still has some catching up to do to his Finnish father, who won the 1982 world title with Williams as he collected five race wins in a nine-season career from 1978 to 1986.

For Nico, Sunday’s win was a cause of celebration with Keke. But the Hills and Villeneuves were sadly never able to enjoy the feat together, as both fathers died in tragic circumstances.

Britain’s Damon Hill made history in 1996 when he won the world title with Williams to add to those Graham took home in 1962 and 1968, making them the only father and son to both be drivers’ champions.

Damon won 22 races in an eight-season career spanning from 1992 to 1999, but Graham never saw him race as he died in 1975 when the plane he was flying crashed in foggy conditions in North London. His son was just 15 at the time.

Hill senior earned the nickname “Mr. Monaco” after winning on the Monte Carlo circuit five times out of his career total of 15 victories.

Gilles Villeneuve was also never there to see his son Jacques win the 1997 world championships with Williams, triumphing in 11 races overall in a 10-season career spanning 1996 to 2006.

A charismatic and thrilling driver, Gilles died in 1982 during a qualifying session at the Belgian Grand Prix – having been runner-up in the world championship three years earlier with Ferrari.

He won six races overall, the first in his home grand prix in 1978 at the Montreal circuit now named after him.