Keke Rosberg: the fragile health of a discreet champion
Keke Rosberg, Formula 1 world champion in 1982, now lives away from the media world. At 76, the Finn confides that his health has been deteriorating for several years. The shadow of Covid, the weight of time and a life that is slowing down... A rare and moving testimony from a paddock legend.
A champion who trained champions. While he became world champion with Williams over forty years ago, Keke Rosberg is also known for advising future big names in F1: Mika Häkkinen first, then his own son Nico, who was crowned in turn in 2016. However, for a few years now, the Finn has voluntarily distanced himself from the public scene. When a journalist from Apu magazine comes to interview him in his Monaco apartment, the receptionist first thinks she has an appointment with Nico. This shows how much Keke is in the shadows today.
He rarely agrees to speak to the media, but this time, he breaks the silence to discuss a very personal subject: his health.
Covid, the Silent Trigger
« The coronavirus period was a bit confusing », he confides. « I don’t know if it was due to the lockdown or a form of post-Covid illness. » Since that time, Keke Rosberg acknowledges living with a state of chronic fatigue. His daily life has changed. He who always had a thousand projects now finds himself revising his ambitions downwards: « I had a list of things to do. I still have one, but it’s a list of things that can no longer be done. » A form of resignation, tinged with lucidity, marking a turning point in the life of this man with a competitor’s soul.
Living with Age, Away from the Spotlight
Rosberg has never sought to capitalize on his past glory. Since his retirement, he has kept his distance from the media sphere and the F1 circus, except for rare appearances alongside his son. Now aged 76, he seems to want to preserve what energy remains for a peaceful, discreet life, yet marked by the memories and scars of a demanding sport.
Jody Scheckter, another legend facing the everyday
The testimony of Keke Rosberg echoes that of another former world champion: Jody Scheckter, crowned in 1979 with Ferrari. At 75, he too faces unexpected challenges. Having settled in Italy a year and a half ago, he is currently unable to drive on the road. “I have to retake my driving test, but I speak Italian too poorly to pass the exam,” he explains with a certain humor. For someone who tamed the fastest single-seaters of his time, the situation is indeed surprising.
Time passes, memories remain.
Through these intertwined stories, an entire generation of drivers enters a new chapter of their lives: that of aging, the slowness imposed by the body, and nostalgia. But despite the ailments and limitations, these men have left an indelible mark on the history of F1. And while their bodies may slow down, their legend continues to live at full speed in the memory of the fans.
