Rosberg rewarded for keeping the faith

Nico Rosberg always believed he would one day savour the winner's champagne in Formula One.

After claiming his maiden pole position in the Mercedes on Saturday at the 111th time of asking, Rosberg followed that up with his debut win in Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, 30 years after father Keke took his first chequered flag.

He said: "I was convinced my time would come when the car was ready, and this race was it. I'm now definitely looking forward to many more because this is an unbelievable feeling."

He added: "It's been a long time coming for me, and for the team as well over the past two years and a bit.

"Now it's finally here it's just amazing, definitely very special and just nice to see how quickly we are now progressing.

"To win my first race and everything that comes with it, with the team I have, with everybody who has been working together for more than two years now, it's a very happy moment."

Only four drivers in F1 history have had to wait longer than Rosberg to claim victory - Jenson Button (113), Jarno Trulli (117), Rubens Barrichello (124) and Mark Webber (131).

Like current drivers Button and Webber, who finished second and fourth respectively on Sunday, sandwiching Lewis Hamilton, Rosberg is hoping further wins will now follow swiftly.

Rosberg added: "Niki (Lauda) just said, from now on winning gets easy. If that's the case, I'll take it, he must know."