Mercedes GP are in the perfect position on paper, taking over the World Champions, and having the 7 time champ Michael Schumacher, and young hot-prospect Nico Rosberg drive for them.
However, despite the team starting work on their 2010 car early on last season, Schumacher has admitted that all may not have been going to plan so far:
“Only the future will show if it’s a winner. We are working very hard and there is still a lot of work to do. I would not say that at the moment it is all going according to plan, but on the other hand I know that the car here in Barcelona is not the car that I will drive in Bahrain.”
Michael Schumacher
When asked if he thought the car would challenge for the victory at the opening race of the season, he replied simply; “Maybe not.” Despite this, promising signs of progress in the Barcelona test caused them to adjust their negative predictions.
William’s Rubens Barrichello – an ex-teammate of Michael Schumacher at Ferrari has recently told Mercedes’ other 2010 driver, Nico Rosberg:
“Get out of there, that’s the only thing I can tell him. Knowing what I know and seeing how fast Michael went today, it is going to be a tough job. I wish him [Rosberg] all the best because I think he is a talented boy who can be world champion.”
Rubens Barrichello
As Rubens is more or less suggesting, Michael Schumacher is likely going to be the number one at Mercedes, with his infamous partnership with Ross Brawn being re-ignited.
Rosberg has been given the nigh-on impossible task of being Schuey’s teammate, someone who has a history of dominating his team’s garage, and Nico is going to have to work incredibly hard to avoid being seen as just another one of his compatriot’s lapdogs.
Schumi will undoubtedly be quick too, but the whispers have already started about his neck not being able to hold up to the strain. If it can’t Mercedes have got a very capable reserve driver in Nick Heidfeld.
Mercedes appear to have one of the strongest teams on the grid on paper, and providing the car isn’t as bad as they made out early in the season, they should be right up there with the frontrunners.
Love these previews. XD
I don't want to just dismiss Rosberg but I think Schumi will get the number one just because he'll drive better. I've never been overly impressed by Nico. I think he's good but last year he didn't have a competitive teammate so we couldn't really tell if he was getting everything out of the car. Sure he looked good compared to Kazuki but bow he's going to be facing really tough opposition.
The other problem is if Vettel ends up there in a couple of seasons or Lewis (for various reasons I could see Lewis there) and then he may be more known for his teammates than his own driving like maybe Massa is.
I expect Merc to end up ahead of RBR and maybe even higher with Brawn Schumi and Rosberg. This squad is the one that is the unknown for me out of the top teams.