For Nico Rosberg, 2009 is potentially a make or break season. This is his fourth year with Williams and, although much will depend on how the team fare during what will be a difficult time for everyone in the sport, he needs to deliver before his reputation as one of the stars of the future slips away.
It's hard to ignore the fact that some major sponsors have left the Grove outfit, and still others are in well-publicised difficulties. While team sources insist that all is well financially, life won't be easy. On the positive side, the major package of rules changes represents an opportunity for an organisation with a history of innovation behind it to get its sums right. Patrick Head and Sam Michael have certainly embraced the challenge of KERS.
Last year Nico scored a couple of podiums, but very often the package was uncompetitive and he languished in the last third of the grid. Of course, the performance of the FW30 will determine how Rosberg will be perceived by the end of 2009.
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