Formula 1 Latest News: Mercedes’ new W02 shows poor reliability and pace
Although, Mercedes GP driver, Nico Rosberg refrains from calling it an alarming situation, it is evident from the initial tests that Mercedes' new Formula 1 car does not seem very promising.
The caravan of cars assembled at Jerez, Spain, this Thursday for the second pre-season test session. It was upsetting for the team as well as its fans to see the new silver W02, 3 seconds off the lowest time. Moreover, the team focused on reliability tests
for the car at the first day of practice but just like the pace of the car, reliability results weren't satisfactory as well.
While discussing Mercedes’ last year car, the team driver and seven-time world champion, Michael Schumacher told the media that he was not very optimistic about it right from the test sessions. The 42-year-old admitted he had realised by the second winter
test that "it (2010) was going to be a tough year".
The team had an abortive campaign last year. Schumacher’s return to the sport after an absence of three years was much hyped, however, nothing turned the way it was expected. The driver blamed the car for not being competitive while the race experts believed
that he failed to bring the best out of it. On the other hand, his team-mate and a far junior racer, Rosberg ended the 2010 season two places ahead of him with an advantage of 70 points.
Mercedes GP was the first team to halt the development work on its 2010 car and begin making this year’s car, ahead of all its rivals. The team's fans had great hopes to see a very competitive machine coming out of the team’s factory. However, so far, the
car has failed to impress race experts and fans alike.
Still, Rosberg dismissed all the speculations regarding the reliability or pace of the new W02. "This is an interim car… So you can't just look at the pace as we have so many new parts to come," he said.
Moreover, the driver also defended the car's reliability issues. He told the reports that technical problems are something "you always expect" from a new car that is still in the testing phase.
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