For proof of how adept Nico Rosberg is with regards to the technical aspects of driving racing cars, one need only refer to the Williams F1 team's Engineering Aptitude Test. Rosberg scored higher on that test than any driver in the team's history.
There was, however, nothing cerebral about Rosberg's decision to follow in the footsteps of his father Keke Rosberg, the 1982 F1 champion with Williams. "When I was young and used to watch my father racing it was incredibly exciting," said the man who opted out of studying aerodynamics at London's Imperial College when speaking to HT. "So yeah, for me becoming a racing driver was a no-brainer."
The German remains the youngest driver in F1 history to have set the fastest lap of the race. While Rosberg is yet to win his first F1 race, let alone match any of Vettel's achievements, he can take solace in more than doubling Mercedes GP teammate Michael Schumacher's points tally when the seven-time champion made his comeback in 2010. Things are much closer this year, however, with Schumacher outscoring Rosberg 46 points to 41 after trailing him by 12 points up to the Monaco Grand Prix. Rosberg refuses to put it down to the 42-year-old's race pace that seems far superior to his own.
"Michael is definitely better in races than he is in qualifying," said Rosberg. "But it's not like he's faster than me in the races, I think because of the tyres we have this year there are various factors that have come into play."
{{/usCountry}}"Michael is definitely better in races than he is in qualifying," said Rosberg. "But it's not like he's faster than me in the races, I think because of the tyres we have this year there are various factors that have come into play."
{{/usCountry}}Presumably, Rosberg would have his head wrapped around those factors while looking to improve on his performance.
"There are definitely things that an F1 driver can still be coached, mainly working on driver feedback."