Rosberg expects better days ahead
Despite a disappointing first half of the season, Nico Rosberg continues to believe in his team and does not lose hope for the future.
Upon joining the team that won the world championship in 2009 under the name Brawn, Nico Rosberg hoped to quickly achieve his first Grand Prix victory in F1. Unfortunately, the competitiveness of the last two creations of the German brand clearly does not allow him to challenge the Red Bulls, Ferraris, and McLarens on Sunday afternoons.
« Nobody could win with my car, » declares the driver in an interview with the Spanish daily El Pais. « There are three teams, Red Bull, Ferrari, and McLaren, that are ahead of the others. I have to wait to have a better car. »
After a difficult 2010 season, the Mercedes GP team had high goals for this second campaign. The latest tests conducted on the Barcelona track had hinted at promising possibilities for the two in-house drivers. But in Australia, it became clear that the W02 was not in the same league as the RB7 or the MP4/26.
All hopes are now pinned on 2012. Ross Brawn believes the team has understood its mistakes. Furthermore, the team has recently launched a large recruitment campaign with around a hundred positions to fill in order to strengthen the staff considered somewhat weak compared to the competition. We remember that in 2009 Brawn had to part with a good portion of his personnel for budgetary reasons. Today, the situation has changed due to the support from Mercedes.
What needs to be improved on this Mercedes to make it a winning car? « Everything. Generally, it’s the aerodynamics and the mechanics in terms of weight reduction. The engine is good, but the blown diffuser, which is very important from an aerodynamic perspective, can be greatly improved, » explains the 26-year-old driver.
However, Rosberg does not despair and maintains great ambition, even for the end of the season. « Later this year or at the beginning of next season, I will think about victory, » declares the one who competed in his 100th Grand Prix in Hungary.
In the meantime, the German’s objective will be to finish behind the top three teams. « With this car, finishing 7th is like a victory. »
