Nico Rosberg was encouraged by the performance of the Mercedes W04 in wet conditions after another productive day for the team in Barcelona. The German racked up 120 laps over the course of the day, close to two full Grand Prix distances, including a race simulation in the afternoon.
Teammate Lewis Hamilton had impressed many with his pace in the wet on Thursday, along with his lap times after switching to slicks, and Rosberg would do likewise today. The 27 year old admitted he enjoyed driving in the slippery conditions early in the day and believes the team are in good shape should it rain in Australia two weeks from now.
“It was great to run in the wet today which I have not done so far during our pre-season testing programme. The car felt good in those conditions and it’s important to have had this experience as there is always the chance of rain in Melbourne. This afternoon, we did some race simulation work which was very productive. I am happy with my mileage today as every single lap is important for the learning process, and so overall it was a positive day for me here in Montmeló.”
Hamilton will take over driving duties tomorrow before Rosberg returns for his and the team’s final day of testing on Sunday.