Nico Rosberg: Mercedes' pace makes tough start to 2013 bearable
Nico Rosberg insists that he is not getting disheartened by his early season fortunes, even though he has slipped well behind team-mate Lewis Hamilton
The Mercedes driver has retired from two of the first three races of the 2013 Formula 1 campaign, and was disappointed after Malaysia when he was given an order to hold position in the closing stages.
Despite the situation, which has left him 28 points behind Hamilton in the standings, Rosberg says the fact his Mercedes is so competitive is more than adequate compensation.
"It has been disappointing not to finish, but I am really looking forward because I come here with a good car and the belief that I can really make it happen this weekend," said Rosberg.
"That is a really nice feeling that I don't remember so much from last year, because towards the middle of the season that was gone and we were nowhere.
"So, I am going with that - and I am really looking forward to what is to come because I have a great car."
Rosberg believes that Mercedes is in a different situation to 12 months ago, when its form was compromised by overheating rear tyres and it could not keep up a strong enough rate of development over the season.
"Our biggest weakness was tyre overheating, which was a big issue here, but I am confident we are much improved on that so we should be better on that front," explained Rosberg.
"The second thing is development, so I am trying to work with the engineers and try to make sure that we are on top of our game and keeping up with the best in F1 in terms of the development rate.
"That was crucial last year. I am very enthusiastically motivated to get started."
Bahrain GP: FIA and FOM reiterate confidence over race going ahead
Bahrain GP: Felipe Massa tops opening practice session
How Ferrari’s Monaco headache became its Silverstone migraine
OPINION: Ferrari won the British Grand Prix with Carlos Sainz, but it ultimately cost Charles Leclerc a chance to make a bigger dent in Max Verstappen's title lead by leaving the Monegasque out on old tyres towards the end. Like Monaco, indecision over strategy proved to be the Scuderia's biggest issue - and if the team doesn't reflect, the headache can only intensify
The five factors behind Sainz winning a British GP he’d twice lost
Formula 1 has a newest race winner, in a grand prix the victor appeared to have lost twice, only to charge back to headline a sensational and dramatic British Grand Prix. From a massive start crash to a late sprint finish, here’s how five factors saw Carlos Sainz take his maiden grand prix win
Why there was no case to answer in Aston’s latest F1 copycat saga
The appearance of a revised Aston Martin in Spain caused controversy but PAT SYMONDS explains why the FIA investigation found the Silverstone team had no case to answer
Why it's Red Bull that really leads a three-way fight so far at Silverstone
After a slow start to Friday at Silverstone, all the Formula 1 teams had to effectively cram in a day’s worth of practice into one hour. But there was still plenty to learn and while Ferrari topped the times, a three-way battle is brewing ahead of the British Grand Prix
Why the future is bright for the British GP
It wasn’t so long ago the situation looked bleak at Silverstone with the future of the British Grand Prix under threat. But a transformation has seen it restored to one of the most important races on the Formula 1 calendar, with bigger and better to come
Could mixed fortunes for F1's leading Brits turn around at Silverstone?
For the first time in many years, none of the local racers starts among the favourites for the British Grand Prix. But George Russell, Lewis Hamilton and Lando Norris could have reasons for optimism
Verstappen exclusive: Why F1’s champion isn’t fazed by Silverstone return
Max Verstappen is the world’s number one racing driver… and he’s determined to keep it that way. Speaking exclusively to GP Racing's OLEG KARPOV, the Red Bull driver explains why he’s relishing the 2022 championship battle with Charles Leclerc – and why he’s not worried about returning to Silverstone, the scene of the biggest accident of his career last year
Why Red Bull’s RB17 hypercar can help its F1 team
On Tuesday, Red Bull laid out its plans to develop and build a new hypercar - the RB17 - penned by Adrian Newey. As the project itself sates Newey as a creative outlet, it also offers Red Bull's Formula 1 team a number of new and exciting avenues to pursue