Interview Nico Rosberg: “This Is Slow Motion Compared to Formula One.”

Rosberg isn’t impressed by the pace of VC—but he’s reshaping it anyway, one moonshot at a time How Nico Rosberg rewired his Formula One intensity into a billion-dollar investment engine From the roar of the racetrack to the hush of boardrooms, Nico Rosberg isn’t slowing down—he’s just switched lanes. Since abruptly retiring five minutes after clinching the 2016 Formula One World Championship, Rosberg has carved a high-speed path through the venture capital world. As the founder of Rosberg Ventures, he's chasing the next big wins not with tires but with term sheets—fueled by a relentless drive for excellence, a fearless attitude toward risk, and a perfectionist’s obsession with detail. At SuperReturn International, Rosberg opened up about life after Formula One, the transition to investor mode, and what it means to channel the mindset of a world-class athlete into venture capital. Whether it’s transforming F1 connections into capital networks, diving headfirst into AI-driven rollup strategies, or just shaving grams off his helmet to gain an edge, Nico is proof that being “retired” doesn’t mean being done. The Lowdown Quit Formula One five minutes after winning the 2016 World Championship—no looking back. Launched Rosberg Ventures, now managing over $100 million in assets. Invests in exclusive VC funds, direct deals, and co-investments, with a climate-tech and AI edge. Brings an athlete's “win or nothing” mentality into high-stakes investing. Claims a 90% loss rate in racing made him “super fearless” in risk-heavy VC bets. Even his helmet paint had to go—80 grams too heavy. Sleep hacking? Try TimeShifter, an app born from his custom jet lag-free regimen. Obsessed with acceleration—on track, in meetings, and in scaling firms. “I Only Won 10% of My Races. So I Don’t Care About Losing.” Losses aren’t setbacks—they’re data. Rosberg’s F1 career taught him to embrace a 10% win ratio. That’s now the thesis at Rosberg Ventures: bet bold on moonshots, even if the odds seem laughable. One example? Asking a top German family for a $10 million check as a first-time VC. They eventually said yes. Why? Because Rosberg exudes belief. And he’s built proof points: hosting F1 events with elite VC circles, offering more than hype—delivering results. “They believe that what I’m gonna do, I’m gonna win.”—Nico Rosberg “I Had a Sleep Professor from Harvard. Zero Jet Lag All Season.” Perfectionism wasn’t optional. It was the edge. From black helmets to custom sleep protocols that eliminated jet lag for an entire season, Rosberg’s marginal gains mindset defined his F1 success—and now shapes his approach to business and teams. He operated like a CEO even as a driver—assembling his own physio, psychologist, and sleep scientists. That same approach now powers his venture firm. “It’s called marginal gains... every small detail adds up.”—Nico Rosberg “We Passed $100 Million in Assets. Now We’re Accelerating.” Rosberg Ventures isn’t just a vanity project. It’s a fast-growing firm with layered strategies: fund-of-funds, direct deals, and co-investments. They’re tapping into inaccessible VCs and growth-stage companies—with the edge of bringing F1 flair to the investment world. And there’s no obsession with one hot sector. Rosberg's team takes a generalized approach, casting a wide net across verticals—from climate-tech unicorns to AI rollups like accounting firm Crete, now #18 in the US. “We’re building access into the generational companies of our time.”—Nico Rosberg “F1 Teams Used to Lose $200 Million a Year. Now They Make $300 Million.” The business of F1 has flipped. Rosberg remembers when teams bled cash. Now mid-tier teams trade at $2 billion, and the top at $6 billion. Why? Smarter content. Netflix's docu-drama made the sport reality TV gold. Fanbase demographics flipped—hello, teenage superfans in America. Rosberg sees it as a playbook for all sports: authenticity, content, access. And yes, he’s still dialed into the F1 world—investing, influencing, and watching it all evolve. “Now it’s teenage girls asking me for autographs. That never happened in my time.”—Nico Rosberg What’s Next Q: What’s your biggest takeaway from SuperReturn? A:  A notebook full of insights. Rosberg writes down every conversation, every strategy nugget. The goal? Repurpose it all to fuel new acceleration in the months ahead. Q: Will you stay linked to Formula One? A:  Absolutely. Whether it’s investment, events, or the cultural evolution of the sport—Rosberg’s F1 engine is still humming. Q: What’s the mindset that keeps pushing you forward? A:  “I want to accelerate. I’m going too slow. I want to accelerate faster. Always.”