Nico Rosberg committed to Mercedes, but calls for winning car soon
By Jonathan Noble Friday, July 1st 2011, 09:22 GMT
Nico Rosberg has told his Mercedes GP chiefs that he remains fully committed to helping the outfit make the push to the front of the grid - but admits he needs to get himself in a winning car as soon as he can.
Team principal Ross Brawn said recently that he wanted Rosberg to be patient in giving Mercedes GP time to achieve success, amid speculation that other outfits are ready to swoop for the German's services.
And although Rosberg, who has an option with Mercedes GP for 2012, could be tempted away by the prospect of more competitive machinery, he says that he is ready to be convinced by Mercedes GP that it can deliver him the car that can make him a winner.
In an exclusive interview with AUTOSPORT about the importance of the next step in his career, Rosberg said: "To start off, the answer on that is that I am driving for Mercedes GP as a German, and I am part of the process of building up this team.
"I have the opportunity to help lead this team - so it is pretty clear that it is a fantastic opportunity. I would never say that I am uncomfortable or something.
"Additionally I feel very comfortable in the team because there is a great bunch of people, so all in all it is a nice situation to be in, to be part of this project and part of this challenge. But of course, I am a racing driver - and above all I would like to win races.
"I wouldn't say I am impatient for it, but I hope that it will come soon – and that is why I am pushing hard at the moment. As always."
When asked if he was willing to give Mercedes GP that time that Brawn hoped he would, Rosberg said: "At the moment, yes. In my current situation of course, but I don't want to now look into the distant future.
"I am in a pretty strong position at the moment. I really have to see. The fact is that I would like to win races, at the same time that I am feeling very comfortable in this team. I just have to judge for myself how likely that is going to be that this team win races soon."
Rosberg says he has no doubts that Mercedes GP has the ingredients to ultimately be successful – but it was a question of how long that would take.
"Yes, 100%," he said. "And I think everyone can be convinced. Come on: we have Mercedes-Benz, we have Ross Brawn, masses of other clever competent people working together. Mercedes is building the engine.
"It is a fact that the team will have success, and everyone will agree on that. There is no reason why it won't. But the big question mark is, when? Currently it looks like it is still going to take time, for sure. But Mercedes is very committed."
And speaking about his feeling on speculation that has already linked him to McLaren, Ferrari and Red Bull Racing, Rosberg said: "Obviously there is interest from other top teams, which is a good thing for my career for sure. But that is about it at the moment. There is nothing more than that."
Credit: AUTOSPORT.COM (www.autosport.com)
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