Nico Rosberg could be the next top formula one driver under long-term contract.
Hot on the heels of Sebastian Vettel’s new 2014 deal, and Fernando Alonso’s tying to Ferrari through 2016, it is reported that German Rosberg could be set to sign on for five more years with Mercedes.

Sport Bild magazine said the deal is worth almost EUR 80 million in total, representing a 3 million euro pay-rise increasing by 10 per cent per season.

“I am counting on him being with us in 2012, and if it is up to me, a lot longer as well,” said the German marque’s motor racing vice-president Norbert Haug.

Rosberg, 25, did not deny the story.

“What I can say is that I’m really happy where I am. It remains my dream to succeed with the Silver Arrows,” he said.

Sport Bild said Rosberg, if he does sign the deal, would become the highest paid driver of all time who has not won a single grand prix.

He has contested 95 grands prix to date, and if he does go on to win he will join the likes of Mika Hakkinen (96 races), Giancarlo Fisichella (110), Jenson Button (113), Jarno Trulli (118), Rubens Barrichello (123) and Mark Webber (130) as the drivers who took longest to join the ranks of F1 victors.

Nico Rosberg insists he is not getting complacent after proving stronger than his famous Mercedes teammate in the past two seasons.
Ever since seven time world champion Michael Schumacher returned from retirement in 2010, it has been 25-year-old Rosberg regularly setting the pace at the wheel of the Silver Arrows.

Calls for Schumacher, 42, to quit have intensified since his performance in Turkey, where after the race the German admitted he is missing the “big joy” of F1 at present.

But Rosberg has defended Schumacher, insisting he still respects the winner of an unprecedented 91 grands prix.

“He is and remains the most successful racing driver of all time,” the German told Auto Motor und Sport.

“It is still very difficult to be faster than him and I must work hard in every session. Everything needs to fit together for me to stay ahead.

“I’m happy that it has worked well for me against him so far, but I also know that at the next race it may be difficult,” added Rosberg.

The next race on the calendar is in Barcelona, where at the final test of the pre-season the W02 car seemed right on the pace.

But Rosberg warned: “The tests are far in the past and therefore now basically meaningless. In the last few races we have seen exactly where we stand.”

According to speculation in F1 circles, McLaren could be set to drop most of the silver from its car livery for the 2011 season.
Last year, after the shareholding split with Mercedes was announced, it was rumoured then that Woking based McLaren might adopt a substantially new livery — given Mercedes GP’s plans for a similarly silver car.

Team boss Martin Whitmarsh said then: “It (the silver) is a McLaren brand colour; it works for our partners and us.”

Mercedes, however, ramped up its ‘Silver Arrows’ rhetoric throughout 2010 and now remains only an engine supplier to McLaren, with the shareholding ever diluted.

Indeed, this year, Daimler’s stake is scheduled to have been entirely bought back by McLaren.

A hint about McLaren’s branding and livery plans for 2011 is in the new official merchandising range for the forthcoming season.

For example, gone are the silver team caps of 2010, replaced by mainly black ones for 2011. The team crew and management-style shirts and jackets are also black.

In glorious sunshine on Sunday morning, nothing could be felt more by the chaos of the weather Saturday. The pilots of Formula 1 could therefore go in good conditions in the late time hunting in Japan. The people behind Red Bull has breathed on at breakfast. True to its motto: If the sun shines, then us, no one can be dangerous.

And just as it came. Sebastian Vettel marked in 1:30.785 minutes, the expected pole position. The German was therefore – as early as Friday – no nakedness, referring to his team-mate Mark Webber (2 / 1:30.853) just in their place. The fast in fast Duo RB6 was from the competition not to pack again. However, the dominance was less than expected.
A surprise was the other teams and drivers. Williams was already in Q1 as a serious candidate on the front row, McLaren was found for problems recovering from Friday and Ferrari suddenly revealed weaknesses. Felipe Massa (12 / 1:32.321) retired already from the second pass, Fernando Alonso (5 / 1:32.555) must bake after two wins in a row, smaller rolls.

Nerve show both pilots in the British silver arrows. Lewis Hamilton, who had damaged his car on Friday was significant, in 1:31.169 minutes on court three. But the Briton still has five places back because his car had to be changed to the transmission. Renault driver Robert Kubica (4 / 1:31.231) thus moves to third, Alonso may depart from the second row.
can also look forward to the race performance of Jenson Button. The reigning world champion put on a bold strategy and completed Q3 on hard tires. Button made it so in 1:31.378 minutes on court six. From fifth on the grid but the champion should have good cards in the race, because it may set off only one of the top people on hard tires.

Behind Nico Rosberg (Mercedes / 7) stressed the Williams duo of Rubens Barrichello (8) and Nico Hülkenberg (9) the good shape of the British tradition of teams. Michael Schumacher (10 / 1:31.846) was able to just save there in Q3 and will create no surprise. “Now I hope for a good start and a good strategy,” said the world champion. Mercedes-mate Rosberg said: “More was not with me I am satisfied..”

“The first step is made, but more important is that we come in the race on the first two places,” Red Bull team boss Christian Horner warns his team from getting too much joy after qualifying. Slightly disappointed left the Sauber-men the floor. Nick Heidfeld (11 / 1:32.187) failed to hang on the narrowest of margins in Q3 catchment, local hero Kamui Kobayashi was at 14th place.
The failure of the day must attach themselves but others. Felipe Massa (12 / 1:32.321) managed with his Ferrari not even a place in the final qualifying round. The Brazilians came nowhere near the level of his team-mate Alonso. Head-shaking even with Sébastien Buemi. The Toro Rosso driver was in 18th place hangs up in the first round. For the first time the Swiss was not the jump in Q2.

The Duel of the new team decided again Lotus for themselves – even surprisingly well. Jarno Trulli and Heikki Kovalainen made the Virgin pilots in their further improvement in VR-01 at almost a second to the courts. In our internal battle was surprisingly by Lucas di Grassi against Timo Glock, have scored again no improvement with soft tires.

Now the team is not much time before the race. Within hours, have strategy meetings and conducted vehicle checks are completed. Clock at 8:00 (PDT) turn the lights on the Grand Prix of Japan to green. As a clear favorite, the Red Bull drivers start in the fourth to last race of the season.

Jenson Button loses world champion in the overall standings to fourth place in Singapore on the ground: “But it’s not over yet!”
McLaren is the big loser of the Singapore night. Silver Arrows, the British had to accept a pay freeze Lewis Hamilton, Jenson Button made it with the MP4-25 just once in fourth. “It was not a loose race, but I had to do all the time pressure. It’s always sad when you give full throttle all the time and it still not enough for a podium finish,” said the reigning champion.

“At the beginning I have some spared the rear tires because we had noted on Friday that they do not keep so well. That gave me some help. In the final laps of the first stint I was therefore the gap on Lewis, because with him it looked like as if he had had problems with the tires, “said Button, who in the battle for third against Mark Webber had a chance.
“After the safety car period I was on the harder tire had problems with stability on the curves and output. I could not even keep up with the Red Bull, who had 30 laps on the tires on the clock,” reports the British McLaren on the issues. “This shows how fast the were and it shows that it was not an easy race for us.”

“The race was otherwise perfect for me, everything was simply not the pit stop was perfect -.. Probably the best all year, but the balance just does not fit,” said Button. “Our car was not as good here as expected. In qualifying we can get the best, but in the race it was really hard.”
“We hope so on the new parts of Japan. They were supposed to arrive in Singapore to the car, but it happened for reasons of reliability not. In Suzuka, we will hopefully have a competitive car,” says the 30-year-old. Positive the view is now ahead: “Suzuka should suit our car better to eat well for us, Singapore was the most difficult of the routes in the final stage..”

In the overall standings button is now only a fifth, 25 points behind leader Webber. “I’m still in the process,” the British fighting spirit. “Too bad that Mark Webber was able to land before us. But we are at points just from a racing game. It is up to the last race still everything is possible. I wish back the old points system. Then we could better see how close all lie together. ”

“You have to think positive but at this stage of the season,” said Button. “Lewis had today in the duel with Webber pitch. I do not know exactly what happened there. I have only seen that Webber has him forced out clearly. One bad race can be very cost much. My points of today are important, but actually would have to stand on the podium. “

Mercedes GP looks set to secure another sponsor.

The German source sponsors.de reports that Allianz, the Munich based global insurance group, will soon be added to the livery of the Silver Arrows.

Previously, the company invested about EUR 10 million in formula one through its trackside sponsorship programme, in addition to a 750,000 sponsor deal with Williams.

But the new partnership between Allianz and Mercedes in formula one makes sense, given the strategic agreement signed with the German carmaker’s parent Daimler earlier this year.

“Daimler has been working together with Allianz for more than 80 years now,” the chairman of Daimler Insurance Services said in February.

His former promoter, Gerhard Berger sees the Red Bull driver Sebastian Vettel as a Formula 1 world champion 2010th In the opinion of his former bosses at Toro Rosso, the 23-year-old ahead of his teammate Mark Webber as the best chance of the title, although he is after twelve of the 19 World Championship races with ten points behind the leading Australians only in third place overall. “With Sebastian Webber and Red Bull has a great driver line. Both can win races and be world champion. I see Vettel at an advantage because he drives a constant,” says Berger the ‘Sport Bild’.

Vettel was recently in Budapest by its own fault as he let on restart after a safety car period, too much distance and it conceded a drive-through penalty, missed taking over the championship lead. “The current events are a learning phase, which does him good and make is even stronger,” says the former Formula 1 driver, was celebrated under his leadership in 2008 in Monza, Vettel Toro Rosso its first victory.
The Austrians see Vettel in extraordinary abilities: “Sebastian is incredibly intelligent and as precisely as Ayrton Senna. He is always very focused, but also constructive. This draws him even from a young age,” says Berger, but also Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg praises, claiming at the silver arrows against the returning world champion: “Michael Schumacher’s achievements are not bad, his problem is simply Nico Rosberg.” The 25-year-old Schumacher was for the “greatest teammate he ever had. Nico is young, intelligent, and highly concentrated toptrainiert. But unfortunately the car is far from winning.”

A good advice is Berger also yet to Ferrari driver Felipe Massa left that would have in the team orders affair of Hockenheim, as his colleague Fernando Alonso too easily overtook an unfortunate role was played: “As a driver I respond to Massa’s body differently. I would have referred openly to my race engineer on the radio that I could indeed pass by Alonso as team orders are banned, but then one must expect a punishment, “says Berger. “I am convinced that under such a radio message that everyone could hear, Massa would have never heard of his box.”

When everything is rosy red, with black and silver one looks for Red Bull Hockenheim is not brilliant. The Grand Prix of Germany was the great show of Ferrari. Fernando Alonso put in a hard battle over 67 rounds through with difficulty, hardship, great determination and the kind assistance of the team to his stable mate Felipe Massa. Sebastian Vettel was in third place in the fight for victory do little.

Massa had laid the foundation for a beautiful duel by a rocket launch. When the box was sent to the great journey, Vettel and Alonso blocked in the battle for the top one another, the Brazilian shot by loosely at his side. The Heppenheim also got second place even to his Spanish rival, the Ferrari-train could pull away again.

Behind the leading trio, Lewis Hamilton had the better top speed may push past the McLaren in the first round to Mark Webber. The Briton made his Australian opponent in the braking zone before the hairpin, no chance. For Webber, the already difficult race was later complicated. Even Jenson Button came through a better strategy yet by him.

Front left Alonso in the fight for the victory of patience in the meantime. On lap 20 his efforts culminated in an attack on Massa, who fought but successful. “This is ridiculous”, sparked fury of Asturias to the pits. He had hoped that one on him vorbeilotst Brazilians – but not yet. Alonso was unnerved to fall back to three seconds later to start a new hunt.

With fast laps he pushed himself up again to Massa. It was clear who is the faster Ferrari man. About 25 laps later Alonso finally got his way. With a few well-concealed position request to exchange Massa was slowed, the ostentatiously went to the hairpin on the gas and pull Alonso did. “Sorry,” were the words of Massa engineer Rob Smedley to his protege sad.

“Adjutant” Massa had the remaining 15 laps, only one job: controlling Vettel. The Red Bull Local Hero had been able to conserve his tires for a long time and threatened to catch up to the top. While Alonso was able to free forward well, made the German more and more pressure on Massa. Vettel was the last Rendrittel many fast laps, but was again thrown back lapping at something. Massa thus saved second place before the Germans.
While the British silver arrows drove into Hamilton ahead of Button in order to Paarflug places four and five, the concerns of the German Silver Arrows were clearly visible. Nico Rosberg and Michael Schumacher caught behind Mark Webber (Red Bull) and Robert Kubica (Renault) in the stands while eight and nine points, but were overtaken both! Mercedes was in phases two seconds slower than the top.

The last point landed Renault rookie Vitaly Petrov at number ten. could do little, the two Williams drivers Rubens Barrichello and Nico Hulkenberg, both of which fell back immediately at the start and were later able to make little impression. Adrian Sutil had to make three pit stops and ended up in 17th place, Timo Glock was with his rank behind Virgin’s best driver of the three new teams. The Swiss Sébastien Buemi (Toro Rosso) was eliminated early after a collision with his teammate Jaime Alguersuari.
TMS

According to well-known French commentator Jean-Louis Moncet, a notable meeting involving the Mercedes GP team took place on Monday.

Moncet wrote in his Auto Plus blog that the video conference would involve the Stuttgart based Daimler chairman Dieter Zetsche, and the Brackley based team’s Ross Brawn, Norbert Haug, Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg.

He said the “various statements by members of the team to the media” would be discussed, even though a Mercedes spokesman rubbished the report.

And although Mercedes insists the comments were taken out of context, Moncet could be referring to Rosberg’s quoted claims about being frustrated by a lack of development progress.

There have also been hints from Rosberg, Schumacher and Brawn that development of the 2010 car could be stopped in favour of focusing on next year’s project.

But in a team statement late last week, those figures insisted the team is still working hard on the W01.

“It’s been tough for us over the last few races but we are working hard to improve and I am confident we will get there,” said Rosberg.

However, a headline in the German daily Die Welt said “Expectation and reality are far apart at Mercedes”.

The article included Zetsche’s warning of early this year when he said that “If there are clear indications that we can use our money more effectively outside of formula one, we will have to take a new decision”.

And former Jordan and Jaguar designer Gary Anderson said: “The people around Brawn understand the car they have built for 2010 in the same way they understood it in the second half of last year.”

But Bernie Ecclestone thinks Mercedes needs more time to get up to speed with its own team.

“Of course it takes a bit of time to revive a myth, but I am sure they are on the right track and that the Silver Arrows will come back to full strength,” said the F1 chief executive.

(GMM)

A Mercedes spokesman on Friday said quotes attributed to Nico Rosberg by a German tabloid newspaper were taken out of context.

25-year-old Mercedes GP driver Rosberg reportedly said the 2010 car was a “disaster”, while he is “angry” about the “backwards” development of the W01.

But the spokesman, revealing that he has spoken to Rosberg who is upset about the newspaper’s sensationalism, insisted that the German has “nothing but admiration” for both Mercedes and team boss Ross Brawn.

Rosberg, currently seventh in the drivers’ world championship, is also “completely happy with the Silver Arrows team”, the Mercedes-Benz Motorsport spokesman added.

After the not very successful weekend in Canada is at Renault in reparations from Valencia. Then do it in Montreal, failed to make ground on Mercedes, but considers the silver arrows were not even going, it will run better in Spain. The R30 has been upgraded to catch up in the Spanish port city with new parts. Robert Kubica and Vitaly Petrov, who won there in GP2 already are confident at least for the weekend.

Kubica looks at the layout of lines similar to Montreal. “The biggest difference between the two circuits makes the asphalt. In Montreal, the new pavement proved to be extremely slippery. In this regard, should the tar in Valencia offer a higher level and play for us in the cards – even if the playing field equal for all” believes the poles, the speculation with a higher grip levels: “It is also in Spain, at a road course, we count on Friday again with low grip, in the course of the weekend but should be always better – especially in the framework more racing series at the Start walking with their tire wear should also create a firmer track. ”
Both Kubica and Petrov swarm in contrast to their colleagues about Valencia. “I was not only because of my GP2 victory of good memories of Valencia. I know the track inside out in terms of braking points, racing line, which curbs you can run over any problems and how the tires will behave in the race. Of course, that is in a Formula 1 all represent something different. But my starting point will be better than in Canada, “says the young Russian.

His Polish team-mate, it looks like this: “I know that many drivers assess this differently, but for me, I can say I like the track. The mixture of street circuit and a modern Grand Prix circuit makes the thing from my point of view so interesting. The basic layout reminiscent of the many rather slow corners at the Grand Prix of Canada. As in Montreal, it is in Valencia in the first place on a high braking stability and traction for accelerating out – and this should be our Renault R30. ”
Aerodynamics important than in Canada

However in Valencia, aerodynamics more into play, so Kubica: “We will go with a higher degree of aerodynamic downforce at the start than in Canada, yet comes to the aerodynamic efficiency is very important: As many as four times per round, we penetrate into very high speed ranges before. ” Petrov for the beloved Valencia comes after the disappointment of Canada just right. The Russian said, however, that he has learned from the weekend in his teaching overseas.
“First of all, I am of course aware that I have undermined during the race bug”, there are self-critical and Petrov said: “At the start I have made too much risk when I saw the grass beside the track in line with my incorporated. They paid off Unfortunately not, instead I was given a drive-through penalty. However, it was important to finish the race and collect more information – especially about the handling of the tires in different conditions. This experience I will help in the future, in certain situations better . respond ”

The focus at Renault but at the moment the duel with Mercedes. The French want to finish the season fail before the silver arrows. 29 points separate the two teams currently work from each other. For Kubica, the distance “to the stables, which are currently at the top is not so huge. But we must still make up a lot of ground. And so we will only succeed if we continue to work full steam ahead and improve ourselves constantly.”

The Pole is certainly top-motivated: “If it goes for me, after we beat everybody, not just Mercedes.” The new parts on the R30 will bring about change. “I wonder how much the car improved and if I need to adjust my driving style,” said Petrov, who also assesses other strong teams, “In Montréal Force India was very fast. We must see that we can beat them . In addition, enjoys the duel with Mercedes currently the highest priority for our team. “

For Michael Schumacher is the Canadian Grand Prix is always something very special hopes – team-mate Nico Rosberg on other Mercedes-progress

For Michael Schumacher is the Canadian Grand Prix “is really one of the highlights of the year. That is not because he is the most successful driver on the Cirucit Gilles Villeneuve. But the Mercedes star cites two other reasons: “One is that he always gives me the opportunity to do outside of Europe, something unusual, something entertaining.”

“The other reason is that one senses here that the whole city the Grand Prix. The emotion and the fans – this is very spectacular. This makes it so special,” said Schumacher. The track itself is not so demanding: “In a way it is a stop-and-go course. But the mood and the track characteristics to allow overtaking, ensure that there is something else.” For Mercedes, the goal is to continue the upward trend heralded in Canada.

“We find ourselves with the team in a construction process that is extremely good. I’m very pleased with the way we work and how we move forward,” said Schumacher. “We have not yet the package to be very front. After the winter testing we had not expected. But when I see where we are moving, which is very good.” The new aerodynamics package that Mercedes was in Turkey this has brought the silver arrows from Ferrari. But Schumacher a limit, “But that does not mean that this will be the case here.”

“We have seen how a team was in front and then back again – it’s sometimes a bit difficult to understand and strange, why is this the case,” says Schumacher continued. “We hope that we stay at the front end and so far we could always get the most from the package. Nico Rosberg did a fantastic job, as he has brought the podium.”

And this weekend, a podium is there? “In a wet race there are many opportunities,” replies Schumacher.

Mercedes team-mate Nico Rosberg agrees, that the “development process” comes on, the silver arrows, even if it is his opinion, still not gone quite according to plan: “We could close the gap still not quite what we had hoped,” says he. “But we really make good progress. In Turkey, we had the F-shaft, which has brought us a long way forward.”

Rosberg hopes that in Montreal goes even further ahead: “Here we have another route. I am confident that we can cut a little bit better and have a good chance at many points. With any luck, could even a podium or something in there a little. They also depends on the weather. I think it will be an interesting weekend. ”

A strength of the Mercedes, the braking performance. Rosberg sees this as an area that could meet the Silver this weekend, finally, the brakes will be charged in Montreal was stuck above average. “I personally really like the track, hence, I think it may be good,” he concludes.

It is wrong to describe Mercedes’ original 2010 car as the “old” one, Norbert Haug insisted on Wednesday.

Despite the German team only debuting its ‘new’ longer wheelbase version in Spain last weekend, it has been confirmed that Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will be driving the previous specification this weekend in Monaco.

Team boss Ross Brawn said the team “will run our new aero package but we will revert to our previous specification suspension system to allow for the steering lock required around this unique circuit”.

According to DPA news agency, Haug insisted: “There is no ‘old’ and ‘new’ silver arrows.

“There is one with a longer wheelbase, as used in Barcelona, and one with a shorter wheelbase, as used in the previous four races,” added the German.

Well that’s how it panned out as the reigning F1 World Champion delivered a well judged and much deserved drive to notch up his second victory of the season. Prior to the start of the Chinese Grand Prix, at Shanghai International Circuit, few would have predicted a Jenson Button win, fewer would have waged odds on a McLaren 1-2.

The race under heavy Shanghai skies had everything: a dry spell, a semi-wet phase, wet with rain fall, first lap mayhem, a jump start and generous doses of overtaking.

It was by no means plain sailing (excuse the pun) for Button who took the lead on lap 19 and controlled the race from that point on, well almost, as in the final laps he faced a relentless challenge from team mate Lewis Hamilton who again was the star of the show with a gritty drive to second place.

Nico Rosberg, again showed impressively, bringing his Mercedes GP home third making it an all Merc powered driver podium. Rosberg flew the flag for the Silver Arrows as his illustrious team mate Michael Schumacher could only manage 10th place in an afternoon in some high profile battles which alas saw him come out second best in just about all of them. Twice he was overtaken with remarkable ease by Hamilton, Vettel and Webber, lost a battle with a rookie late in the race and was taken by a Ferrari on the very last lap which relegated him to tenth.

Fernando Alonso brought his Ferrari home in fourth, which was an impressive feat considering that the Spaniard was given a drive through penalty for jumping the start. It was marginal but replays showed the scarlet car edging forward before the lights went off. Hence he led briefly from the start. Team mate Felipe Massa was nowhere near Alonso’s pace all weekend and scrapped his way to ninth, well and truly overshadowed.

Renault again were impressive with Robert Kubica taking fifth place in yet another strong drive for the team and crowning a good day with rookie Vitaly Petrov having an action packed day with a  number of excursions, but also a number of duels with some big names and seventh place was a just reward for the Russian who clearly revels adverse conditions.

Sebastian Vettel who started on pole in his Red Bull will be wondering where it all went wrong. A win in conditions that he thrives in was almost a foregone conclusion prior to the start. But it was not to be and sixth is scant reward for a race that somehow escaped the team. Mark Webber who shared the front row defied his experience with some silly mistakes which saw him come home eighth. There will be few smiles in their garages.

YF1

Nico Rosberg achieved the first podium finish for the Mercedes GP Petronas team at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia today. Nico Starting from second place on the grid, but Nico lost a place at the start and was running in third position at the end of the first lap.

He made his sole pit stop on lap 22 where superb work from the team enabled Nico to gain over a second on the chasing Robert Kubica. From there, Nico drove a composed race to the chequered flag to secure third position and his third podium finish,

Michael Schumacher was out of the race when a wheel nut came off one of the rear wheels and forced Michael to retire on lap ten.

Nico Rosberg
“Its a fantastic result today to achieve our teams first podium at the home race for our title partner, Petronas. I want to thank the whole team for all of their hard work this weekend and over the winter. This result is the start of the reward for our efforts. Its a great feeling to be back up on the podium again and to have so much support from the Malaysian fans here. My start didnt go that well today as I had a bit too much wheelspin and once I was in third place, I knew it would be difficult to follow the leading cars. I struggled a little with the options in the first stint which allowed Robert to stay quite close but once we switched to the primes, I felt really comfortable and we could manage the race home to third place. This is a great end to a strong weekend for us. Were not quite where we want to be yet so we need to push on but Im confident that well get there soon.”

Michael Schumacher
“It was a shame that I could not finish the race but unfortunately the wheel nut on the left rear wheel was lost. The car suddenly became very unstable in turn six and I could hardly steer and had no drive left. I initially thought it was something to do with the suspension but after I stopped and had a look, it was evident that was a wheel nut missing. It is something very unusual to happen and in testing we never had problems so we have to look it. I would have obviously wanted to finish the race and I think it could have worked out quite reasonably well. But in the end that is motor racing, I remember that very well. It makes no sense to get angry about it, you have to accept it as part of the game and look ahead. At least Nico scored our first podium finish and I am happy for him and the team.”

Ross Brawn
“That was an excellent drive from Nico today and a first-class performance to secure his third career podium and the first podium for the Mercedes GP Petronas team. We are delighted to have achieved the first podium for the Silver Arrows here in Malaysia and to be able to share the rewards of our hard work with our title partner Petronas at their home Grand Prix. My compliments to Nico for an assured performance today and over the weekend. Michael was in a good position after the start and we were looking forward to having a good race on his side but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. The car lost a wheel nut which is a problem that we haven’t experienced before. The wheel nuts are double-checked on the grid so we will investigate and put in place the necessary solutions.”

Norbert Haug
“A great drive from Nico and our first podium after starting from the first row in our third race. The team had a first-class strategy and Nico did not put one foot wrong and secured this first and for us historic podium finish, at the home race of our title partner Petronas. Our gap to the two Red Bull-Renaults in front of Nico was still considerable and we all know there is more work to be done in order to catch up. However it looks like we are heading in the right direction and the point standings after three races dont look too bad. Sorry for Michael who had a great start and was positioned sixth when a wheel nut came loose which stopped his race. We will work hard and concentrated to make sure that our car will be fully reliable in the future and get quicker step by step. After Melbourne, Nico and the team performed again the quickest pit stop which is very rewarding for our guys and sometimes very important to get the right amount of World Championship points. Last but certainly not least congratulations to Sebastian Vettel and Red Bull Racing for their first and well deserved victory in 2010. Seb was the class of the field today.”

(YF1)