DECEMBER 4, 2002

Rosberg is youngest F1 driver ever

Nico Rosberg had his first runs in a Williams-BMW F1 car yesterday in Barcelona and in doing so became the youngest driver ever to test an F1 car. The 17-year-old son of former World Champion Keke Rosberg won the chance by dominating the Formula BMW series in Germany this year. He completed a total of 38 laps.

"The first laps were like a game with a Playstation, everything went so fast and seemed so unreal," said Rosberg Jr. "My

father had advised me not to attempt too much and just enjoy the whole experience. I think I managed to do that quite well. Now I don't want to drive anything else."

Mike Thackwell remains the youngest driver ever to race a Formula 1 car, at the age of 19 years five months and 29 days although it is arguable that his F1 debut never took place as the race was stopped after a first lap crash and Thackwell's car was taken over for the restart by one of his Tyrrell team mates. The second youngest F1 racer was Ricardo Rodriguez who raced at the Italian GP of 1961 at the age of 19 years six months and 27 days.

Williams also ran 27-year-old German Dirk Muller, a BMW touring car driver who has represented the company with much success in recent years in the European Touring Car Championship.