Rosberg: 'There's a big positive vibe from these cars!'

Reigning world champion Nico Rosberg was in Barcelona yesterday for a sponsor's event, and he is paying a visit to the F1 paddock today.

Rosberg, who walked away from the sport at the end of last year after a trying season in which he wrestled arch rival and team mate Lewis Hamilton for the title, admitted he is impressed with the 2017 cars, although he has no regrets about his decision to call it a day.

"I'm very happy with my decision, for me it's the right thing," Rosberg told Sky Sports F1.

"For sure there will be some strange moments, how could there not be. No, I'm just a big passionate fan of F1, like I've been since I was six years-old."

The German is attentively following pre-season testing in Barcelona, and is excited about the year ahead.

"I'm excited for our sport, because there is such a big positive vibe from these new cars. The drivers are excited, the fans are excited. They look fierce, and that's how it should be.

"The drivers should be warriors driving these cars. The cars should take drivers to their absolute physical limits. And you can see that out there, with their neck hanging out and hurting."

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Rosberg wouldn't commit to saying that a Mercedes driver would follow him as world champion although he reckons his former team will obviously be right up there once again.

"Mercedes is looking good, even just visually. If you look at that car they've done an impressive job again. At the moment, Ferrari seems to be the main threat but it's early days still."

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