Nico Rosberg says he used the final day of in-season testing to lay the groundwork for next weekend’s British Grand Prix, but admits this will also benefit Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton.
Fresh from his dominant Austrian Grand Prix win, the German was back in action at Spielberg on Wednesday and picked up where he left off by topping the time sheets in the W06 Hybrid.
This was Rosberg’s second day of in-season testing after he also ran during last month’s post-Spanish Grand Prix session. With 2015 regulations stating that F1 teams must have young drivers in at least two of their allocated four days, this means reigning world champion Hamilton has not tested at all.
However, Rosberg does not think extra time in the car will give him an edge over his title rival, whom he trails by 10 points.
“It helps me being in the car today, but Lewis is going to take the same set-up, so it’s just I’ve done the job for us in that sense,” he said.
“It’s the team that learns most, but of course I learn a few bits and small things which are always useful.
Rosberg initially carried out aero tests in Austria before gradually picking up the pace. The 29-year-old also managed to complete 110 laps despite suffering a slight delay at mid-session.
“I had a gearbox issue, but it didn’t cost us anytime because it was over lunch, it was an intense programme, but we got through everything, learned a lot of things, prepared for Silverstone so drove a stiff car, to learn or prepare for that race.
“That was good information. Other than that, I was trying some mechanical things, springs, things like that. The car is going to be great (at Silverstone), fast corners is the speciality of the car.”
Click here for pictures from the final day of in-season testing in Austria
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