From GMM
Nico Rosberg has played down boss Ross Brawn's claim that he is close to winning his first grand prix.
The 24-year-old German has outpaced teammate Michael Schumacher at every race in 2010 so far, finished the last two grands prix on the podium, and is second in the drivers' championship.
"Nico is very close to winning a race," Ross Brawn said, ahead of a substantial car upgrade for the weekend's Spanish grand prix.
But Nico Rosberg told the German news agency DPA: "It would be nice, but we must be realistic. At Mercedes we are not yet in a position to win, but in the coming weeks we should make some big steps and I'm hoping to make good progress."
As for the W01 winning in Barcelona this weekend, he insisted: "That would be expecting too much. But I do hope we can narrow the gap to Red Bull."
Nico Rosberg said earlier this season that, with F1's most famous driver occupying the other side of the garage, he is being very careful with his words in 2010.
When asked on Monday if he is surprised to find himself as Mercedes' number one, he answered: "So far I'm very pleased with how my season has gone. I am especially happy to be second in the championship. I'm happy to have been ahead of Michael so far, but it is still too early to make comparisons."
Asked if he knows why he is faster than Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg said: "No. I only know that I have a good feeling with the car and am able to get a lot out of it."
About Nico Rosberg, former triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart says: "Nico has raised his game. The boy has extraordinary skills. I think Michael has been taken aback by that. It must be affecting him."
Rosberg's former boss Sir Frank Williams told the Daily Mail: "Nico is a very self-confident young man with a reasonable amount of justification for being so. He won't be overawed in Michael's presence."
But a report in the Telegraph newspaper expressed concern that Mercedes' decision to alter the wheelbase length of the W01 car could affect Rosberg's momentum.
"Instead of helping Schumacher get back up to speed, could it just upset Rosberg, costing him the chance to compete for the world title?" wondered writer Tom Cary.
Nico Rosberg has played down boss Ross Brawn's claim that he is close to winning his first grand prix.
The 24-year-old German has outpaced teammate Michael Schumacher at every race in 2010 so far, finished the last two grands prix on the podium, and is second in the drivers' championship.
"Nico is very close to winning a race," Ross Brawn said, ahead of a substantial car upgrade for the weekend's Spanish grand prix.
But Nico Rosberg told the German news agency DPA: "It would be nice, but we must be realistic. At Mercedes we are not yet in a position to win, but in the coming weeks we should make some big steps and I'm hoping to make good progress."
As for the W01 winning in Barcelona this weekend, he insisted: "That would be expecting too much. But I do hope we can narrow the gap to Red Bull."
Nico Rosberg said earlier this season that, with F1's most famous driver occupying the other side of the garage, he is being very careful with his words in 2010.
When asked on Monday if he is surprised to find himself as Mercedes' number one, he answered: "So far I'm very pleased with how my season has gone. I am especially happy to be second in the championship. I'm happy to have been ahead of Michael so far, but it is still too early to make comparisons."
Asked if he knows why he is faster than Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg said: "No. I only know that I have a good feeling with the car and am able to get a lot out of it."
About Nico Rosberg, former triple world champion Sir Jackie Stewart says: "Nico has raised his game. The boy has extraordinary skills. I think Michael has been taken aback by that. It must be affecting him."
Rosberg's former boss Sir Frank Williams told the Daily Mail: "Nico is a very self-confident young man with a reasonable amount of justification for being so. He won't be overawed in Michael's presence."
But a report in the Telegraph newspaper expressed concern that Mercedes' decision to alter the wheelbase length of the W01 car could affect Rosberg's momentum.
"Instead of helping Schumacher get back up to speed, could it just upset Rosberg, costing him the chance to compete for the world title?" wondered writer Tom Cary.