Formula 1
Nick Fry interviews with Italian media
NICK FRY TO 422race.com: "WE'LL DECIDE ABOUT DRIVERS ON JANUARY" On their drivers decision: "We are working on it, as you might expect. We have nothing to say at the moment, we might say something before Christmas, but it's more likely to be at ...
Published: Dec 18, 2009, 10:52 PM
Copy link
Share on Viber
NICK FRY TO 422race.com: "WE'LL DECIDE ABOUT DRIVERS ON JANUARY"
On their drivers decision: "We are working on it, as you might expect. We have nothing to say at the moment, we might say something before Christmas, but it's more likely to be at the beginning of January. Michael Schumacher? We are discussing things with a number of different drivers. Three or four. Nationality has literally nothing to do with this at all. Mercedes said it would be nice to have a driver who was German and we got that already with Nico. It wasn't a big deal from the start and it's completely irrelevant to the decision."
On the importance of drivers' experience: "I think we learned this year that it's important to have two drivers capable of scoring points in every single race. And the reason we won the Constructors Championship is because we had that. Both drivers did a sensational job and they were very similar to each other. We knocked in the points in every single race or virtually so, and we need that. With the lack of testing, it's very difficult to expect a younger driver to do that. Clearly we'll hire some people with F1 experience."
On Nico Rosberg: "I think Nico is a race winner. He's not won races yet, but none was Jenson, until he won with us in 2006. Give him a very good car and I think Nico will flower, especially under Ross' tutelage. I'm hopeful we'll give him a very good car next year. Possibly he didn't have the best car in the last couple of years, but what he has done is accumulate a very large amount of experience, which is very attractive to us. He is still very young, has three years of experience in Formula One, there is no doubt he has got the speed, he has the genetic structure and with Ross coaching him, I think he can be a race winner, undoubtedly."
On the new team setup: "For us it's the absolute perfect situation. We've got Mercedes with 45%, we've got Aabar, and people keep forgetting their influence, they are of the biggest investment companies in the world, with a huge portfolio, they've got 35%, and Ross, myself and the other existing shareholders have got 25%. I think that's a great split, because it just balances out the different requirements and I think it'll work perfectly. The running of the team continues exactly as it is. I will continue the job I've been doing and Ross will continue to do the job that he's doing. Norbert is the manifacturer, the owner representative and will continue to do really what he's been doing. We're not anticipating any significant change between any of us."
On the battle between Button and Hamilton: "It's going to be fascinating. Clearly I've had some nice chats with Jenson over the last few days at social functions and contrary to what people might think, there's no hard feelings at all. We wish him all the best. We were disappointed that he left our team, but we've got a nice relationship and we all want to work together in the future. I think Jenson has got a difficult task ahead of him, and that's nothing to do with whether he's got the talent, it has all to do with going into a team where Lewis has been there for a long time and knows it very well. According to my experience in Formula One, for a new driver coming into every team it takes months or even most of the first season really to understand the lay of the land. That's quite difficult to do. Jenson is a brave lad taking that on and he's got the raw skill to do it. It's a matter of learning how the team works, he's going to have to accelerate himself up the line very quickly."
The complete interview (in Italian) is available at www.422race.com.
-credit: 422race
We want your opinion!
What would you like to see on Motorsport.com?
Take our 5 minute survey.
- The Motorsport.com Team
Read and post comments
Read also :
Share Or Save This Story
Copy link
Share on Viber
Previous article BMW Sauber statement on Kamui Kobayashi
Next article Schumacher comeback rumours get even stronger
Top Comments
There are no comments at the moment. Would you like to write one?
View More & Comment
More from
Nico Rosberg
Nico Rosberg compares Ferrari’s clashes to his own Mercedes F1 rivalry: “The instructions are not clear enough”
Formula 1
Formula 1
Mexican GP
Nico Rosberg compares Ferrari’s clashes to his own Mercedes F1 rivalry: “The instructions are not clear enough”
James Vowles faces "tough moment" as Nico Rosberg calls Williams woes "a shocker"
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
James Vowles faces "tough moment" as Nico Rosberg calls Williams woes "a shocker"
Kimi Antonelli could get "more and more panicked" in F1 title fight, says Nico Rosberg
Formula 1
Formula 1
Spanish GP
Kimi Antonelli could get "more and more panicked" in F1 title fight, says Nico Rosberg
More from
Mercedes
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
4 h
Charles Leclerc penalised for Liam Lawson clash; Kimi Antonelli and Oliver Bearman also punished after F1 Brazilian GP
Kimi Antonelli: "Weird" spin and car instability cost F1 Brazilian GP win
Formula 1
Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
5 h
Kimi Antonelli: "Weird" spin and car instability cost F1 Brazilian GP win
Latest news
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Final NASCAR Cup points standings after 2026 Homestead finale
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Official race results: NASCAR Cup Homestead season finale
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
NASCAR Cup
NAS NASCAR Cup
Homestead-Miami
2 h
Ryan Blaney wins Homestead NASCAR Cup finale as Kyle Larson claims 2026 title
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Formula 1
F1 Formula 1
Sao Paulo GP
3 h
Winners and losers from F1's chaotic Brazilian Grand Prix
Feature
Discover prime content
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Formula 1
By Pat Symonds
How F1’s rules got to be so complex
Subscribe and access Motorsport.com with your ad-blocker.
From Formula 1 to MotoGP we report straight from the paddock because we love our sport, just like you. In order to keep delivering our expert journalism, our website uses advertising. Still, we want to give you the opportunity to enjoy an ad-free and tracker-free website and to continue using your adblocker.
You have 2 options:
- Become a subscriber.
- Disable your adblocker.
Subscribe now Already subscribed? Sign in here
Already disabled your adblocker?
Reload page
Manage Alerts
Subscribe