`He is excellent` - Ecclestone
Bernie Ecclestone may have played a role in Nico Rosberg`s F1 debut.
The 20-year-old German has admitted to England`s Guardian newspaper that Ecclestone, the F1 supremo, `campaigned` to put the famous name back on F1 timing screens.

In 1982, Rosberg`s Finnish father Keke - who is today Nico`s manager - won the world championship in a Cosworth powered Williams.

Nico said: "Campaigned might be too strong a word, but (Bernie) did speak to Frank and say it would be a good idea to sign me."

Ecclestone, 75, is not shy to enthuse about F1`s youngest driver, who will debut at the Bahrain track this Sunday.

"He is excellent," the Briton told Kicker, referring to Nico Rosberg. "I think he can follow in his father`s footsteps."

Meanwhile, Keke has vowed to take a back seat in 2006. The former Champion has been a huge influence on Nico`s junior career, but said he would only be seen in the background at Grand Prix.

He told the Observer newspaper: "Nico is not accessible because he is busy and I am accessible. I don`t want to become a media guy, wobbling around telling the world what he thinks. I want to stay out of it."

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