Skip to main content

Recommended for you

Marcin Budkowski spoke to 'over half' the F1 grid before choosing Cadillac

Formula 1
Marcin Budkowski spoke to 'over half' the F1 grid before choosing Cadillac

Josh Berry has momentum but no 2027 NASCAR contract yet

NASCAR Cup
Iowa
Josh Berry has momentum but no 2027 NASCAR contract yet

Graeme Lowdon's shock Cadillac exit wasn't a "mutual decision" - Dan Towriss

Formula 1
Graeme Lowdon's shock Cadillac exit wasn't a "mutual decision" - Dan Towriss

Ty Gibbs’s crew chief says practice runs proved viability of bold two-tire calls

NASCAR Cup
Iowa
Ty Gibbs’s crew chief says practice runs proved viability of bold two-tire calls

NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell is ready to bring a race to Europe

NASCAR Cup
NASCAR CEO Steve O’Donnell is ready to bring a race to Europe

NASCAR says Corey Heim will not be eligible for Cup Rookie of the Year in 2027

NASCAR Cup
NASCAR says Corey Heim will not be eligible for Cup Rookie of the Year in 2027

Top 10 Ganassi IndyCar drivers of all time

Feature
IndyCar
Feature
Top 10 Ganassi IndyCar drivers of all time

IndyCar unveils Phase One of 2027 schedule

IndyCar
IndyCar unveils Phase One of 2027 schedule
Breaking news

Decision to stop developing 2013 car 'difficult' - Rosberg

The 28-year-old acknowledged that the 2014 rules revolution is a "huge opportunity" for a works outfit like Mercedes.

Nico Rosberg, Mercedes AMG F1 W04

Aug.10 (GMM) More wins in 2013, or the 2014 title? Nico Rosberg is in two minds about how Mercedes should tackle the second half of this season.

The German has won two races in the ever-improving Mercedes so far this year, while his teammate Lewis Hamilton won the most recent Grand Prix, in Hungary.

But with the sweeping rules changes for 2014 looming, and some teams already turning their full focus to the new cars, Rosberg is unsure how Mercedes should proceed.

Speaking to Germany's Auto Motor und Sport, he seemed to acknowledge that, notwithstanding Mercedes' absolutely front-running car, the chance of winning the 2013 title is slim.

"We have been able to celebrate some huge successes," he said.

"Unfortunately, especially due to the tyres, we were not consistent enough.

"The progress we have made, however, is huge," Rosberg explained. "But our goal is to be where Sebastian (Vettel) is."

Indeed, with half the season gone, Red Bull's Vettel has a 38 point lead over Lotus' Kimi Raikkonen, while the closest Mercedes challenger is Hamilton, who is 48 points adrift.

Rosberg's gap to the lead, meanwhile, is 88 points.

The 28-year-old acknowledged, therefore, that the 2014 rules revolution is a "huge opportunity" for a works outfit like Mercedes.

So should the Brackley based team throw its full weight behind 2014, or keep developing the current car for more poles and wins?

"That's a difficult question," Rosberg said.

"I'm in two minds. On the one hand, I find it so cool to come to a race weekend with the best car, thinking 'I can put it on pole and win'. It's a great feeling.

"On the other hand, half of me thinks next year is such a huge opportunity, because of all the changes. If we just keep driving what we have now, we can still get some good successes out of this car," he added.

What Rosberg is implying is that Mercedes might now consider simply switching the full weight of the team's resources to the 2014 project.

Team boss Ross Brawn admitted that is a possibility.

"For Spa and Monza we have some great update packages in the works," he revealed.

"Depending on how well things go, we will then decide what to do for the rest of the season."

Previous article Sauber bailout collapse fears 'not worth a denial'
Next article Brawn denies talks over Ferrari return

Top Comments

Latest news