Rosberg: I'm ready for Schumacher
#1
01-25-2010, 02:56 AM
Rosberg: I'm ready for Schumacher
Nico Rosberg is confident he can handle the challenge of being paired with Michael Schumacher at Mercedes this year, and says he has been assured they will receive equal equipment.
The former Williams driver expected to become Mercedes' leading contender when it emerged that Jenson Button was heading for McLaren - but instead finds himself teaming up with the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time.
But Rosberg insists he has no qualms about comparing himself to Schumacher.
"I am next to the ultimate benchmark in F1," he told French newspaper L'Equipe. "You couldn't dream for more."
"I have been assured that we will have the same equipment."
"All the attention will be on him, and I will have time to concentrate on my own work."
Schumacher has previously enjoyed clear number one status in his teams, but despite the multiple champion's former Benetton and Ferrari engineering boss Ross Brawn being at the helm of Mercedes GP too, Rosberg says Brawn has promised equal billing for both drivers.
“I know he is his friend and it was important to clarify the situation and erase all doubts which might fester in the team," said Rosberg.
"I’ve got the weapons to fight against the best driver off all time.”
Rosberg's world champion father Keke has been among Schumacher's critics over the years, and Nico himself slammed his countryman's racing ethics during interviews last season, before it became clear that they would become team-mates.
Schumacher has reportedly requested that their car numbers be swapped so he can have the number 3 rather than 4, a request the team says was made for superstitious reasons, but Rosberg laughed off this development.
"When I win in Bahrain, no one will care about which number is on my car, but only which driver is inside it!" he joked.
The former Williams driver expected to become Mercedes' leading contender when it emerged that Jenson Button was heading for McLaren - but instead finds himself teaming up with the most successful Formula 1 driver of all time.
But Rosberg insists he has no qualms about comparing himself to Schumacher.
"I am next to the ultimate benchmark in F1," he told French newspaper L'Equipe. "You couldn't dream for more."
"I have been assured that we will have the same equipment."
"All the attention will be on him, and I will have time to concentrate on my own work."
Schumacher has previously enjoyed clear number one status in his teams, but despite the multiple champion's former Benetton and Ferrari engineering boss Ross Brawn being at the helm of Mercedes GP too, Rosberg says Brawn has promised equal billing for both drivers.
“I know he is his friend and it was important to clarify the situation and erase all doubts which might fester in the team," said Rosberg.
"I’ve got the weapons to fight against the best driver off all time.”
Rosberg's world champion father Keke has been among Schumacher's critics over the years, and Nico himself slammed his countryman's racing ethics during interviews last season, before it became clear that they would become team-mates.
Schumacher has reportedly requested that their car numbers be swapped so he can have the number 3 rather than 4, a request the team says was made for superstitious reasons, but Rosberg laughed off this development.
"When I win in Bahrain, no one will care about which number is on my car, but only which driver is inside it!" he joked.
Last edited by like.no.other; 01-25-2010 at 02:59 AM.
#4
01-25-2010, 12:14 PM
^^^^^^You guys are hilarious! Nico's going from Nakajima to Schumacher in teammates, he should get an oscar for ACTING this cool about it!
#6
01-25-2010, 12:22 PM
I hope Schumacher comes back blazing on all cylinders, like michael jordan did after playing baseball. But there is always the possibility he could come back like Jordan did when he played for the wizards....
#8
01-25-2010, 07:27 PM
I'm calling it right here: Michael Schumacher will win his 8th WDC. Button and Lewis will be 2-3, Alonso 4th.
