Nico Rosberg was delighted with his first outing for Mercedes GP, after the young German debuted the Brackley-based team’s new W01.
Rosberg completed 39 laps around the Valencia circuit before handing the car over to his team-mate Michael Schumacher.
Despite setting promising lap times Rosberg says that it is too early to judge where the team are in comparison to the others, with heavier fuel loads clouding the teams.
“The first impressions of the car were very positive,” he was reported as saying by Autosport.
“It felt great – although it is difficult to compare because there are so many things different with the fuel, the tyres and the fuel levels you are running in testing, plus we haven’t run on this track for a long time. So it is very difficult to compare.
“In recent years you would have had a better impression. But now, since with the fuel level, you don’t really know what other people are running either.
“It used to be in testing that everyone put 50kg or 60kg, but now you don’t know what everyone is doing. It is very difficult to get a good initial impression.”
The German has settled in well at Mercedes GP and appeared to have had no problems working effectively with his new team.
“That is a question that I was asking myself after four years with one car, the same people always building it, you wonder how is it going to be [with a new team]? Do you feel comfortable straight away or not?” he said.
“To be honest, it felt very similar which was a very nice feeling. All the position I am sitting in there, the steering load, the way the steering feels, the power from the engine, everything is different but I really felt at home quickly, which was good. It was very similar to what I am used to, in everything.”
Rosberg also reiterated his happiness at lining up alongside Michael Schumacher at the team and that the seven-times champion’s return has greatly boosted his motivation.
“For me, it is a great thing to have him there,” he added. “It is fantastic, and it has given me a little bit extra motivation I must say. Just that little touch extra, to have him there, which is a good thing.”
