We Norwegians call him "a little Norwegian" despite the Swedish flag
Rally driver Oliver Solberg has been confirmed to have Norwegian citizenship – and thus the right to a Norwegian passport, which means that Norwegian fans can call him “a little Norwegian” even though he competes internationally under the Swedish flag. The news of Solberg’s dual citizenship has sparked interest in both Norwegian and Swedish motorsport circles, and raises questions about national identity in rallying. Motorsport website parcferme.no was first to report the news.
Norwegian passport and Swedish flag: Dual citizenship revealed
The debate over Oliver Solberg's nationality has been ongoing since his breakthrough in rallying. Since his World Championship debut in 2019, the Swedish flag has adorned both his car and his results. Many assumed that Solberg - the son of a Norwegian and a Swede - had dual citizenship, but the Solberg family has on several occasions claimed that Oliver was only a Swedish citizen. Now it turns out that the truth is different. A survey of the Norwegian Population Register reveals that Oliver Solberg, born on September 23, 2001, has always had Norwegian citizenship. He received a Norwegian birth certificate two weeks after birth, which formally makes him Norwegian in the eyes of the authorities, according to Parc Fermé.
Solberg himself was taken aback by the information about his Norwegian citizenship. When Parc Fermé recently put the facts on the table, Oliver replied in surprise: "Okay? Do I have it? No?".
The 24-year-old, who has competed with a Swedish license his entire career, did not know that he was also formally Norwegian. According to the regulations of the FIA (International Automobile Federation), the driver's flag follows the passport that is attached when obtaining an international license. So far, Oliver has only had a Swedish passport, and thus he must represent Sweden in the context of the World Championship. With Norwegian citizenship in place, he can theoretically take out a Norwegian passport and represent Norway in the future. This is a scenario that many Norwegian rally fans find alluring.
Oliver Solberg takes the revelation in good spirits. He jokingly suggests that he should perhaps get a Norwegian passport – if only “to make people a little happy”. The comments reflect the mood among Norwegian rally enthusiasts: After years of slightly hurt feelings about seeing a Solberg name under a Swedish flag, there is now a sense of pride in the fact that the boy is actually Norwegian on paper. Norwegian fans see him as “a little Norwegian” – one of their own – even though he competes under the Swedish flag internationally.
The Solberg Rally Family: Norwegian-Swedish Background and Connection
Oliver Solberg's national affiliation reflects his family background. He is the son of Norwegian rally legend Petter Solberg and Swedish Pernilla Walfridsson Solberg. Petter Solberg is an international star in motorsport, known as the world champion in rally (2003) and rallycross (2014). His mother Pernilla comes from a distinguished Swedish rally family and has herself competed in rallying at a high level. With such a heritage over the years, it was perhaps not surprising that Oliver showed talent in motorsport at an early age.
Oliver was born in Fredrikstad in Norway, but his family lived his first years in Spydeberg before moving abroad (Monaco) when Petter became world rally champion in 2003. Oliver nevertheless spent most of his childhood in Sweden – since 2009 he has lived in Mitandersfors in Värmland, right on the Norwegian border. As a young teenager, he competed under a Latvian license in order to get an earlier start in rally driving (Latvia allows younger drivers), but soon switched to a Swedish license when his age allowed it. He has always been associated with the Swedish motor racing community and drives under the Swedish flag in the WRC (World Rally Championship). Oliver Solberg can thus be said to be among rally drivers with Norwegian connections who nevertheless represent the neighboring country – a unique case that both Norway and Sweden are following with great interest.
The Solberg family enjoys a high status in the rally world across national borders. Petter Solberg's World Championship title in 2003 put Norway on the rally map, while the Swedes now see Oliver as their great hope. The Solberg name has been associated with success in motorsport for a number of years, and Oliver is following up the family's rally heritage with flying colors. He has already made a name for himself in both rally and rallycross – just like his parents. With a Norwegian father, Swedish mother and dual citizenship, Oliver Solberg personifies the best of two nations with a deep interest in cars in both Norway and Sweden.
The future for the "Norwegian-Swedish" Solberg
As a hot name in the rally world, Oliver Solberg is making his mark far beyond the question of flags at the finish. The 24-year-old is about to realize his dream of following in his father's footsteps to the top of the world. WRC news this autumn has been about Solberg's sporting progress: He dominated the WRC2 class in 2025 and secured the championship title in this category. His achievements culminated in Toyota Gazoo Racing signing Solberg, which gives him a place in their factory team. From the 2026 season, Oliver has a permanent seat in the WRC's top division (Rally1) for Toyota - a milestone few at his age achieve.
In both Norway and Sweden, Oliver Solberg's career is followed with pride and anticipation. Norwegian fans may hope that one day he will choose to start with the Norwegian flag on the car, but regardless of the flag, the joy of the Solberg family's continued success is great. Oliver himself expresses that he wants to give something back to both nations that have supported him: He has previously tried to give equal visibility to Norway and Sweden in his identity. For now, everything indicates that he will continue under the Swedish flag, but with a Norwegian passport in his pocket, he has forever cemented his status as "a little Norwegian" in the rally world.
