Rosberg is not worried about missing the first tests

The Mercedes-AMG team (new name for the Mercedes GP team) will not run its next car during the first winter tests to be held from February 7 to 10 at the Jérez circuit. Thus, only 8 testing days will remain to develop the future F1 W03 of the German manufacturer.

This short track time does not worry Nico Rosberg. The German does not believe it will affect his team’s competitiveness in 2012. “It’s the choice they (the team) made and I’m happy with that. It’s a matter of compromise between testing early enough and having enough time to develop the car. They need to find a middle ground and they decided that this was the best way to do it,” Rosberg said in an interview with Autosport.

Nico Rosberg will begin his third campaign with the Mercedes team, and after two rather disappointing seasons, he hopes to finally see the team take a step forward. For this, he is placing much reliance on the technical staff put in place by Ross Brawn during the 2011 season.

« With the way the factory operates, I’m confident. Last year we wouldn’t have been able to participate in the first race if we had run the car so late, but with the way the factory is optimized, I’m confident we can do it and the car will run very fast in the race after the first tests. This already shows that the team is improving, » adds Nico Rosberg.

Mercedes-AMG will officially unveil its next single-seater on February 21, alongside the Barcelona tests. Currently, five teams have announced a presentation date for their 2012 single-seater. McLaren-Mercedes will be the first to lift the veil on February 1.