Unhappy birthday in store for Nico

Date: 24th June 2010 at 4:00 pm | Filed under: Formula 1 News,Mercedes-Benz GP | Author: Glen Robertson | Tags: Canada, Mercedes GP, Michael Schumacher, Nick Fry, Nico Rosberg, Ross Brawn, Valencia | image © Action Images

Valencia is one of the few tracks where Nico Rosberg holds an experience advantage over Michael Schumacher.

And judging from their respective performances in Canada, you’d think the 24-year-old was the one with over 250 starts and 91 race victories to his name.

Rosberg was calmness personified as he took his car from 13^th up to sixth, while Schumacher was criticised for making too many mistakes.

However, Ross Brawn is sticking by the man who he has won seven World Championships, as is Mercedes GP Chief Executive Nick Fry, who said: “we’re very comfortable with Michael’s performance and I can’t see any reason why he won’t come good”.

The 41-year-old himself has said he is preparing for next season, giving the impression this year was always about getting back to grips with the sport before giving it a proper crack next year.

He might be looking ahead, but his team-mate will be solely focused on this year. Brawn reckons his team are: “still within striking distance of the Championship leaders,” leaving Rosberg as the great hope for the Brackley-based outfit.

We could even get the bizarre scenario of Schumacher playing the second-driver role and helping his team-mate win the Championship. He has only ever done that once – with Eddie Irvine in 1999 – after he had missed six races with a broken leg.

It’s not the glorious return to the sport he would have had in mind but would add to his greatness if he could step aside and help a team-mate instead of being the one always receiving the assistance.

However, for any of this to take place Mercedes will need a better car. They were out-qualified by both Force Indias in Montreal, never mind the Ferraris and Robert Kubica’s Renault.

Upgrades will be available again as the team look to balance the fast straights and the slow corners in the car’s setup.

Unfortunately, rumour has it Ferrari have bought a whole host of new updates which will see them be more competitive.

If Rosberg is going to challenge for the title, he needs to start winning races soon. A more competitive Ferrari will not help them out with this predicament.

It could turn out to be a very frustrating 25^th birthday for the second-generation F1 driver.

As for Schumacher, expect his behaviour to improve slightly from the last race and for him to return to the top ten, but he’ll be behind the birthday-boy once more.