Nico Rosberg expects Mercedes to have a tough weekend as a result of the pace shown by Ferrari during Friday practice for the Chinese Grand Prix.
Having been fastest in a disjointed FP1, Rosberg was only able to set the third quickest time in the afternoon session as Kimi Raikkonen headed team-mate Sebastian Vettel on the supersoft tyre. With a number of drivers struggling with the high tyre pressures imposed by Pirelli, Rosberg believes it will be tough to find a good balance for the rest of the weekend.
“Ferrari was very quick today so we’ll have to have a good look at all the data overnight to try and find those extra hundreds of a second we’re missing because it looks like we have a fight in our hands," Rosberg said. "This circuit is very hard on the tyres, destroys the tyres really quick and we have to go for a set-up that is completely different from what we are used to. That’s why it’s so difficult to find a good balance for this track.
“We don’t know how much fuel Ferrari was running with, but they really looked quick. It was a complicated day because of the tyre situation, as I said before, making the search for the best possible set-up a difficult one. We’re in for a tough weekend. I’m focused on what I have to do and I don’t think there are any mind games going on. If it rains in qualifying that opens up the possibility of something unexpected happening but it will be the same for everybody.
“There’s no reason to be nervous just because Ferrari is quick. We have to do our job properly, I’m happy with where we are but we know there’s still time to come from the car.”
While highlighting the threat from Ferrari, Rosberg is also not ruling out Hamilton despite his team-mate’s grid penalty.
“I’m not thinking I can win my sixth race in a row because last year was a long time ago, so I just think I won the first two races of the season and I want to win here too. But it won’t be easy because Ferrari looks very quick, Lewis too. Yes, he has a grid penalty, he’ll have to start a bit further back on the grid but he can easily make up positions. I don’t fear anyone in particular but I’m keeping my eye on all!”
REPORT: Raikkonen fastest as Ferrari leads Mercedes in FP2
AS IT HAPPENED: Chinese Grand Prix - FP2
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