Categories: F1 News, Reports and Race ResultsMercedes

Rosberg takes positives from beating Hamilton

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Nico Rosberg says being quicker than team-mate Lewis Hamilton “just gives that little bit extra” ahead of the new season.

Mercedes has shown impressive pace on the soft compound tyre, with Rosberg setting the fastest time of the two tests in Barcelona on Friday. Having been 0.3s quicker than Hamilton, Rosberg says he will take encouragement from being the faster of the two during pre-season.

“I’m happy to be quickest, it’s better than not being quickest for sure,” Rosberg said. “Of course it’s not worth much in winter testing but it just gives that little bit extra so it’s always useful.”

Asked on Saturday if it meant anything to him that Rosberg would finish the final test with the quicker time, Hamilton simply replied: “Nope”.

Focusing on Mercedes’ pre-season overall, Rosberg says he’s confident the team will have the fastest car for the opening flyaway races.

“I’m pleased with the winter because I think we’ve done a good job with the development of the car. That’s not to say others aren’t also quick but I’m optimistic enough for the first couple of races.

“We have a good car, I’ve been comfortable, have been quick now through these days - also setting the best time of the whole winter test here in Barcelona - so things are going in the right direction.”

The final day of testing as it happened

Click here for the gallery from day four of the final test

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Andrew Lewin

Andrew first became a fan of Formula 1 during the time when Michael Schumacher and Damon Hill were stepping into the limelight after the era of Alain Prost, Nigel Mansell and Aryton Senna. He's been addicted ever since, and has been writing about the sport now for nearly a quarter of a century for a number of online news sites. He's also written professionally about GP2 (now Formula 2), GP3, IndyCar, World Rally Championship, MotoGP and NASCAR. In his other professional life, Andrew is a freelance writer, social media consultant, web developer/programmer, and digital specialist in the fields of accessibility, usability, IA, online communities and public sector procurement. He worked for many years in magazine production at Bauer Media, and for over a decade he was part of the digital media team at the UK government's communications department. Born and raised in Essex, Andrew currently lives and works in south-west London.