Rosberg has high hopes for Williams

The German driver will begin his third season at Williams next year, following a difficult 2006 and a much more promising 2007 campaign.

And although Williams have not won a race since 2004, Rosberg believes all the right ingredients are in place for the team to return to the sharp end of the field.

"Last year there were some major new additions to the technical team and a strong group of people have now been working together for a year," said Rosberg.

"They are going into their second season working together, so this will make the team even stronger. We improved our reliability significantly last year, now it is time to build real performance on top of these solid foundations.

"Despite being an independent organisation, Williams also has one of the best technical infrastructures of any team and of course the partnership with Toyota will also strengthen the whole programme going into their second year.

"The aims are to move up in the constructors' and get the occasional podium. That would be great, not easy to achieve but my hopes are high."

Rosberg added that his hopes that the team will move forward are the main reason why he decided to extend his contract until 2009.

"I have taken this step because I believe in the team's capabilities to move forward and I get on well with everyone in the team," he added. "Naturally being in such a central role as the lead development driver also motivates me.

"I first tested for Williams when I was 17, so our relationship is now five years old, and I'm happy to maintain this relationship and have the chance to help push the team further towards the front of the grid."