Rosberg envisions victory with Mercedes
After pre-season tests deemed rather good for the Mercedes team, Nico Rosberg appears optimistic, to the point of contemplating his first Grand Prix victory.
Discreet and studious, that’s almost what one could remember about the off-season of the star-branded manufacturer if it hadn’t stood out for its technical innovations, such as the W-Duct. Aside from that, there weren’t really any standout performances in private testing, nor any major setbacks. Like McLaren and Red Bull, the team appeared, it seems, to be comfortable but without displaying any particular strength.
If Michael Schumacher was keen to put Mercedes’ place in the 2012 grid hierarchy into perspective – “For me, victory is unlikely, I see Red Bull ahead. Behind them, it will be tight and you can go from hero to zero quite quickly. It will depend a lot on the ability to find the right settings for the circuit.” – Nico Rosberg proved to be more ambitious: “We want to improve compared to last season and pave the way to the top F1 teams. I have always been and I remain convinced that I can win with this team. Obviously, I respect what others hope or think but, in the end, I will give it my all.” An attitude certainly motivated by the good feeling following the tests on the Mercedes W03 in Barcelona.
« I had a good feeling from the start. With the W03, we didn’t experience any of the stability issues we faced last year. I am very happy with the number of laps I was able to cover. We were able to work constantly to improve performance in this way, which delighted all of us. » With 478 laps covered over four days of testing during the two Barcelona sessions, the German is among the drivers who have most worn down the Catalunya circuit. A good sign for the upcoming season? We’ll find out in Melbourne.
The year 2012 will be the third year – and perhaps the last – of collaboration between the seven-time world champion and him. The possibility, often mentioned, that his teammate might extend his contract does not seem to displease Keke Rosberg’s son: « We technically complement each other, which is useful for the development of the car ». Nico Rosberg had already expressed, at the end of last year, his desire to see Schumacher continue for one or two more seasons with Mercedes.
