Nico Rosberg sounds very confident ahead of this weekend’s European grand prix on the streets of Valencia.<\/p>\n
The breakthrough Shanghai winner, who also finished second recently at Monaco, is quoted by Germany’s Sport1 as insisting the Mercedes is “absolutely the fastest car” at present.<\/p>\n
At the same time, Pirelli’s Paul Hembery is reported as having tipped Rosberg’s teammate and Monaco polesitter Michael Schumacher for pole and victory this weekend.<\/p>\n
Rosberg added: “I have the feeling that we could win every race.”<\/p>\n
As for the world championship, Rosberg is 21 points adrift leader Lewis Hamilton at present, but the 26-year-old insists: “It (the title) is possible.”<\/p>\n
“Yes, Canada was a small step backwards,” he said, referring to his fifth on the grid and sixth place finish in Montreal recently.<\/p>\n
And some have predicted a similar struggle in Valencia, where the high temperatures are tipped to be a problem for Mercedes’ 2012 car, the W03.<\/p>\n
Does Norbert Haug agree: “No,” the German marque’s motor sport director insisted.<\/p>\n
“Nico’s pace in Canada with track temperatures of 40 degrees showed that the car can do well in extreme conditions.”<\/p>\n
Rosberg concurred: “We have made huge progress in this regard.”<\/p>\n
Team boss Ross Brawn also sounded confident, setting a high goal if the Brackley based outfit can cut out reliability and team mistakes.<\/p>\n
“The opportunities available if we can give both drivers a reliable car and a clean weekend are clear,” he said.<\/p>\n
Haug, meanwhile, pointed out that if the championship had begun in Shanghai in April, Rosberg would now be leading the drivers’ world championship.<\/p>\n
“The target is to continue that trend,” said the German.<\/p>\n
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