Nico Rosberg says Mercedes already knows where it stands compared to its rivals this season following the first pre-season test.
Ferrari topped the times on three of the four days of pre-season testing, with Mercedes only running on the medium compound tyre as it focused on mileage throughout the first test. Now halfway through the pre-season testing schedule, Rosberg says Mercedes has already worked out where it stands and how the rest of the teams are shaping up.
"We’ve been paying attention of course," Rosberg said. "We have strategists and they have been doing the calculations already, so we more or less know where we are. Would you like to know? Well, sorry I can’t say!
"But we know where we are, but with a band for error because they are able to see full tanks, low tanks and after a while they get a picture of where everyone is. That’s quite fascinating to see that work and we do have a picture."
And Rosberg admits he is looking forward to driving the car when Mercedes runs less fuel and tries some of the softer tyre compounds.
"Of course I love to go really fast with low fuel, so I’m looking forward to that. Pounding round on mediums with lots of fuel is eventually not going to be so exciting at the end of it. We look forward to taking away some fuel."
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