Rosberg heads to Shanghai ‘on a massive high’

Championship leader Nico Rosberg says he enters this weekend’s Chinese Grand Prix “on a massive high”, having won the opening two rounds of the 2016 Formula One season.

The Mercedes driver travels to Shanghai with a 17-point edge over team-mate Lewis Hamilton. However, Rosberg refuses to get carried away by his current run of success – his five-race winning streak stretches back to Mexico last year – and is quick to downplay the early expectations.

“It's great to start the season in such a positive way,” he said. “But I'm just taking things step by step, race by race and targeting a lot more wins to come. It's important to enjoy times like these.

“I feel very privileged to drive the best car on the grid for the third year in a row and I intend to make the most of it. I'm going to China now knowing I can fight for the win, which is a great feeling to have.”

China holds a special place in Rosberg’s F1 career since this is where he claimed his first ever pole position and converted it into a maiden victory four years ago, for what was then his 111^th grand prix weekend.

Though keen to extend the momentum he has enjoyed in recent months, the 30-year-old warns again that Mercedes’ nearest rivals have yet to show its hand.

“Shanghai is a track with good memories for me. I took my first pole and win there back in 2012, so I head into this weekend on a massive high. I'm looking forward to the next battle. We haven't seen the real Ferrari yet, so it could be a very exciting season ahead.

Reigning world champion Hamilton has won the past two editions of the Chinese Grand Prix, with Rosberg coming home second to make it a Mercedes 1-2 finish on both occasions.

PROFILE: Paddy Lowe, the pioneer