Nico Rosberg finally emulated his World Championship-winning father in becoming an F1 race winner last year but in many ways the jury still remains out on the German's ultimate potential.
Although the statistics show he conclusively got the better of the legendary Michael Schumacher across his first three years at Mercedes, the seven-times champion was widely considered to be past his prime, meaning Rosberg was left in something of a 'no-win' situation as far as reputation-building was concerned.
However, that's set to change this season with the 27-year-old now facing up to a more formidable opponent in the shape of Lewis Hamilton - the driver many consider to be the fastest in the sport.
The pair may be long-time friends but, having been born five months apart in 1985, they are also generational rivals and first partnered each other while rising teenage karting stars in Mercedes' junior ranks.
It was Hamilton who stamped the early marker but Rosberg, the son of 1982 World Champion Keke, was also clearly showing his worth and soon headed to single-seaters, winning the Formula BMW ADAC Championship in 2002 before moving onto the F3 Euroseries.
In 2005, he landed his big break in F1 when Williams signed him as their second test driver. The German, who was also competing in the GP2, tested regularly for the team and after easily winning the inaugural junior title, he was confirmed as Williams' second driver for the 2006 season.
However, his first season in Formula 1 was a difficult one for the young German, largely due to Williams' failures rather than his own. Although Nico scored points in his very first grand prix and even finished the race with the fastest lap time, the rest of the season was a struggle. Only one other points-scoring finish followed as Williams-Cosworth battled with pace and reliability.
The German netted a total of 20 points during his second season while in 2008 a podium finish at the very start in Australia and one in Singapore proved the highlights of a topsy-turvy campaign.
For 2010 Rosberg opted to leave Williams in favour of a deal with the new Mercedes GP team and he was soon paired with Schumacher on his F1 comeback
Although there wasn't a race win for Rosberg that year, there were three podium finishes, 142 points and the honour and prestige of soundly beating his legendary team-mate.
There was no repeat performance in 2011 as, for the second year running, Mercedes failed to make a fast start. In fact the team took a step backwards as they were unable to reach the podium, with fifth place Rosberg's best in China.
A year later, however, and with Mercedes making a much stronger start to the season, Rosberg was climbing the top step of the podium in Shanghai after producing the most dominant of performances in both qualifying and the race.
Sadly for the 27-year-old, though, that was as good as Mercedes' season got and he ended the year scrambling for points and trying to stay ahead of Schumacher.
Hamilton's arrival creates a new dynamic, and expectation, at the team for 2013, and having been promised parity with the high-profile signing, Rosberg will hope he can give his old friend more than a run for his money.
