Rosberg Tells Mercedes Not to Switch to 2011 Car

Mercedes GP have experienced yet another disappointing race in Valencia, last weekend, despite the fact that the Brackley based team have come to Spain with a completely new package for their W01. Their major update consisted of a Red Bull-type exhaust system and, of course, a new blown rear diffuser.

However, Nico Rosberg barely made the Top 10 – thanks to the multitude of 5-second penalties imposed by the FIA stewards after the race – while Michael Schumacher recorded his lowest ever F1 finish in career, 15th place. Under the circumstances, the Mercedes GP team boss Ross Brawn admitted to the media that his team must “reflect, assess and see what our next steps should be.”

Translated into everyday English, what that means is probably the German team will soon switch focus to their 2011 challenger, leaving this campaign for second place. And, while that would obviously work for 7-time world champion Michael Schumacher, who is currently placed 9th in the standings, some 93 points behind leader Lewis Hamilton, Nico Rosberg doesn't even want to hear about it.

“I am absolutely against that (giving up on 2010). I still believe in my chances. If the championship leader Hamilton fails just once and I win, I will almost be at his level,” said the 25-year old in a recent interview with Germany's with Sport Bild.

Well, things are not going that well for Rosberg in the ongoing campaign for starters, as more than 50 points separate him from Ham in the overall classification, not a single race win. Additionally, Rosberg is yet to win a race in F1, and the way his car behaved until now doesn't give him that optimistic prospects for the near future.

Nevertheless, he refuses to let go of his dreams this year and urged Mercedes GP to keep updating the W01 with elements seen on their rivals' cars.

“We still have many opportunities for development. Other top teams, for example, have things that we can develop quite simply. That is what we are doing,” added Rosberg.