Rosberg: « I’m going to end up getting there »
The German driver, who, despite 108 Grand Prix starts, still doesn't have a single victory, is annoyed by journalists' questions on the subject and doesn't lose hope of clinching a victory that would be impressive with the Silver Arrows.
For many observers, if there is one driver who does not yet have a record proportionate to his talent, it is indeed Nico Rosberg. Recently, Lewis Hamilton was full of praise for the German: “I know Nico very well and I knew he would do everything to beat Michael, and he did. I think he will keep the advantage now. Nico is hungry, there’s no doubt about it. He hasn’t won a championship or even races yet, but he is still young,” the Englishman confided in the columns of the Cologne Express.
Indeed, although he has dominated the seven-time world champion of the discipline, the young German has still not secured a single victory or pole position in 108 starts, which would place him, should he win before the end of his career, not far from the Top 5 of drivers who waited the longest before stepping onto the top of the podium. When interviewed by the newspaper L’Equipe about this statistical reality – often cruel because devoid of any context – the Mercedes driver retorted: « You’re annoying with the statistics. It’s a journalist thing. I don’t worry about them, and I don’t look at them. If Button had listened to you, he would have given up before becoming champion. I extended my contract with Mercedes because I feel that, in this team, we can win.
Jenson Button had indeed supported the German driver by referring to his own journey, which saw him unexpectedly win the world championship in 2009: « I know that F1 requires patience » assures Rosberg. « I will eventually succeed. I have faith in Ross Brawn. This man exudes intelligence. When you’re around him, you feel you’re going to be successful. And I can tell you, it’s going to be beautiful when I win driving a Silver Arrow. It’s going to look great. »
The victory would be all the sweeter as it is awaited after a 2011 season of disappointed hopes, with the German team having scored only 165 points – compared to 214 in 2010 –, with 89 for Rosberg who had nonetheless accumulated 142 in 2010, nearly double that of Michael Schumacher: “At the time, I was a bit disappointed,” he admits. “In Melbourne, when we started the championship, we had greater hopes. Then we realized that against the Red Bulls, we couldn’t do anything. Today, I feel quite satisfied with this season. Especially since I find myself, once again, ahead of my teammate.”
It remains to be seen if patience will pay off for the German, as it did for Fisichella (110 Grand Prix raced before his first victory), Button (113), Trulli (117), Barrichello (124), and more recently Mark Webber (130).
