Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg says missing pre-season test not a big issue – Formula 1 news
Mercedes AMG Petronas driver Nico Rosberg believes that missing the first pre-season test session of 2012 will not impact their competitiveness for the season.
Mercedes had a tough 2011 season, and lack of competiveness was highlighted as something that needed to be looked into for the 2012 season. The team has announced that it will not be taking part in the pre-season testing in February.
“It is the compromise between testing early enough and having enough time to develop. and they have decided that is the best way to do it,” he said.
Rosberg feels that not participating in the tests is not going to be all that bad for the team as that time will be used in the development of the car. He said that in 2011 the team suffered as the car was uncompetitive and that the team plans to work harder
this time around to change that.
Most teams were also hampered by not so effective blown diffuser which is the FIA has banned for the 2012 season, and is bound to have an impact. That is another reason it is being speculated that 2012 will be a lot more competitive than the last two seasons.
Red Bull initially and then McLaren mastered the blown diffuser design and the grid positions reflected that. However, in 2012, things are hopefully going to be different.
“This year we would not have managed to do the first race if we had run the car that late, but with the way the factory is now optimised, I am confident that we can quite happily make it happen and the car can race very soon after the first test - with just
a few bits and pieces that need to be sorted out. That shows already that the team is a big improvement,” said the German.
Rosberg also believes that the technical structure is going to be much more effective as Geoff Willis and Aldo Costa have joined forces. They will ensure that the start of the 2012 season goes according to expectations and the team is not playing the catching
game throughout the season.
It will be interesting to see how Mercedes shape up things for the 2012 season.
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