Rosberg expects a level playing field at Mercedes

[Giblet]

I saw Schumi say something to Rosberg and he genuinely laughed, but I only saw a small video on another site, it might not have contained the awkwardness you saw.

He has no reason to do anything but smile, being on the title winning team with a 7 time champ while so young in your career is good for him. Nobody really thinks that Nico will beat Micheal, so if he does, then his stock will rise more.

Problem with media events is you often have to force a smile, but he seems far from unhappy.

[tarzoon]

The conspiracy theory keeps going. 8 pages of it! =D> =D>

As far as I can modestly see, this is a win-win situation for Rosberg: he can learn how Schumi deals with the rest of the team, how he explains his thoughts during the briefings, and coming from a 7x WDC, it's easy to assume that there's a lot of good stuff to learn.

On the other hand, being young and having the pressure off his shoulders has similarities with Button. Button won 6 GPs when nobody was expecting much in term of results from him or the team, and sponsorship commitments were close to none. At this point he'll only be expected to drive his best.

The only person that has something to lose is daddy Keke, with his grudge against his son's teammate.

[ringo]

I think Rosberg won't have an equal playing field, but something tells me he will have an edge regardless of that.
Has anyone really look at the pics and notice how old shumi looks beside the young energetic Rosberg?
That gave me the reality check.


Just look at him! looks like an old man deaf in the right ear
"eh?.. what's that my boy? come a little closer.."

Trouble is going to start; when one guy may not be faster, but his youth allows him to hold his pace much longer, then the older guy is going to start blaming the team and asking for more attention.
Something like a grumpy Rubens at Brawn, him being the faster driver but too old to hold his speed over the race distance. With the reputation that MS has, he will be doing more complaining than his old teammate if it so happens Rosberg has a better average speed.

[WhiteBlue]

With the reputation that MS has, he will be doing more complaining than his old teammate if it so happens Rosberg has a better average speed.

I wonder where you got this notion of Schumacher being a cry baby demanding favors to compensate his weaknesses. Certainly not from his years at Ferrari. When he was occasionally beaten by Massa he accepted that and simply worked harder to beat him the next time. And it usually worked out that way. I expect nothing different at Merc.

[segedunum]

Would you be able to substantiate that?

My impression from the Stuttgart launch was a fairly relaxed and eloquent Rosberg.

That's your impression. It wasn't mine. Can you substantiate that Rosberg was relaxed and eloquent?

Have you read what he's been saying - for weeks? "I'll get equal treatment, I've been assured this and that, it'll all be OK when I win in Bahrain etc. etc." whereas Schumacher has effectively said "Screw you, I'm not changing my approach for anyone" - and he made that absolutely perfectly clear. No lost in translation. He's done nothing wrong. This has been rumbling on for weeks. It didn't just kick-off at that launch.

Yep, it sounds like a really relaxed atmosphere. Blaming Schumacher's grasp of English is one of the most bizarre excuses I've heard. There was no lost in translation there.

Perhaps the German press should ask Hamilton at the McLaren launch how often he is going to lie to the stewards in 2010 to gain a place from a competitor.

Maybe, but then again, the same strained situation exists at McLaren no matter how much PR they throw at it.

You're trying to paint this as a nationalistic thing and you've failed, because it isn't.

[ringo]

Never yet has the word champion come out of Rosberg's mouth, why is that?

Micheal has made it clear he is going for the title, whereas Nico is only talking about enjoying the partnership. He may have lost the psychological edge to challenge Micheal already.
I'd say Rosberg is quiet... too quiet, probably contemplating opening up a can of whoop-ass on the Micheal.

[ringo]

With the reputation that MS has, he will be doing more complaining than his old teammate if it so happens Rosberg has a better average speed.

I wonder where you got this notion of Schumacher being a cry baby demanding favors to compensate his weaknesses. Certainly not from his years at Ferrari. When he was occasionally beaten by Massa he accepted that and simply worked harder to beat him the next time. And it usually worked out that way. I expect nothing different at Merc.

It's not a notion, it's that the situation hasn't really presented itself. Micheal has never been in a positon where he has not had a handle on his teammate. He was occasionally beaten by Massa, but was by no means an inferior driver to him over the course of the season. Massa is also an exception at Brazil and Turkey; for some reason he owns those circuits.
What i was saying is MS may give a reaction that we have never seen before, if it is that Rosberg is simply the more consistent driver over a race distance. I don't think he came out of retirement to be Britney's side kick. He will take full advantage of his clout to correct that if it is beyond his physical capabilities to challenge Rosberg.
Working harder will only get him to a point; assuming the younger Rosberg is more alert, energetic and simply has a higher ceiling of performance.

[tarzoon]

I'd say Rosberg is quiet... too quiet, probably contemplating opening up a can of whoop-ass on the Micheal.

Couldn't let that one escape!

We'll see what happens. I really hope this season is even better than second half of 2009

[WhiteBlue]

What i was saying is MS may give a reaction that we have never seen before, if it is that Rosberg is simply the more consistent driver over a race distance. I don't think he came out of retirement to be Britney's side kick. He will take full advantage of his clout to correct that if it is beyond his physical capabilities to challenge Rosberg.
Working harder will only get him to a point; assuming the younger Rosberg is more alert, energetic and simply has a higher ceiling of performance.

In that case he will simply stop driving. There must be a get out clause i the contract. At least that would be the sensible thing to do. Michael has nothing to prove. In case the thing goes wrong he can simply quit and Merc would still have a very good driver. Only that I think it will not happen this way.

[Mr Alcatraz]

Eight freakin' pages!!!
Were going to run out of things to discuss in this arena
by the time the racing starts
Upon further consideration I've underestimated this forum

[ringo]

MS will test with Rosberg on the first day.
Rosberg will feel like he is being pushed into a corner, since he was supposed to have the first day to himself.

[ISLAMATRON]

With 15 days of testing it would be most fair if the drivers shared 1 day, the first day being the best bet seeing as it is the least important, being mostly all systems checks and such.

[WhiteBlue]

With 15 days of testing it would be most fair if the drivers shared 1 day, the first day being the best bet seeing as it is the least important, being mostly all systems checks and such.

+1

[segedunum]

Michael has nothing to prove.

Well, yes he does otherwise he wouldn't have come back. As soon as you step back in the cockpit you have everything to prove, regardless of past history.

[DaveKillens]

Although I have slagged Michael Schumacher harshly in the past (it's in the past, I won't go down that road again), I also have a total respect for his abilities as a race driver.

Yea, he's old and maybe his body has faults it didn't have ten years ago, but I doubt that Michael will allow that to deter him. I recall past races where he has captured valuable points by sheer determination and grit. He never gives up. If at the end of a race they have to give him an IV while still in the car, and lift him out because he's drained, that is what he will do.

I sincerely believe Rosberg is on a fantastic situation. I also believe Rosberg is being groomed by Mercedes to be their flag-bearer for many years to come. And let's put our fanboy egos aside and be realistic. Michael knows how to win. Period.
Nico, despite his successes in lesser formulas, has accomplished little in Formula One. The potential is there, it just needs the right circumstances and training to get him going in the right direction, and be fully capable of winning. Definitely not in 2010. I expect Nico to break out (in the manner Massa did) in 2011.