Rosberg unconcerned by Mercedes miss
January 02, 2012 15:09:52 UK
Nico Rosberg is confident Mercedes will compete despite the fact they will miss the first official test of 2012.Mercedes have confirmed they will miss the first official Formula 1 test of 2012 but Nico Rosberg doesn't think it will affect his team.
The German driver, who consistently outscored team-mate Michael Schumacher last season, is keen to battle for the Drivers' Championship next season and is confident he will be amongst the contenders.
Mercedes have chosen to pull out of the test to work on their new W03 machine, but Rosberg doesn’t think it will affect his chances of fighting for the top prize in Formula 1.
Rosberg, who is 29.00 to seal the drivers' crown, told AUTOSPORT: "It is just the choice that they have made and I am happy with that.
"It is the compromise between testing early enough and having enough time to develop. And they need to find a middle way - and they have decided that that is the best way to do it."
The test is set to take place in Jerez, Spain, on February 7-10 but neither Rosberg nor Schumacher, who is 81.00 to pick up an eighth drivers' title, will be involved.
Mercedes are 51.00 to secure the Constructors' Championship, Red Bull are 2.75 to pick up a third constructors' crown in succession.
Formula 1 2012 begins in March, with the first Grand Prix set to take place in Australia on March 18.
The coming season will see the introduction of the United States Grand Prix in Austin, Texas, as the penultimate race in November, while the Bahrain Grand Prix is scheduled to return in April after being cancelled in 2011 due to civilian unrest.
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