Ferrari lineup exciting: Rosberg
world champion Nico Rosberg is “done with driving” but ahead of the 2019 Formula 1 season, the racer in him is most excited about Ferrari fielding two “No 1 drivers” in Sebastian Vettel and Charles Leclerc for the first time in a decade.
Leclerc, 21, is being touted as a future world champion after an impressive debut season with Sauber last year. Ferrari had a clear No 1 and 2 in Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen for the past four seasons but all of that is set to change with the arrival of Leclerc.
“That’s super exciting because he’s fast, he’s very, very fast (Leclerc). He has everything to be world champion one day, and against Sebastian there, because until now, Sebastian had a clear No 2 on the team and now that’s over,” Rosberg said ahead of the Laureus World Sports Awards here.
“Now he really has everything to be No 1 and that’s pretty exciting to watch. Sebastian can’t afford to do a season like last year or he’ll be beaten by his teammates. He really needs to perform now and that’s going to be really, really fun.”
Rosberg, 33, had announced a shock retirement five days after winning his maiden title in 2016, when he pipped fierce rival and teammate Lewis Hamilton.
The German said it will be interesting to see how Ferrari handle Vettel and Leclerc. He also feels Vettel did not seize opportunities in his title fight against Hamilton last year.
“Internally, how Ferrari manage that because for so many years they have had a No 1 and No 2, as long as I can think. This will be the first time now since ages, I don’t even know how long, really ages, that they have two No 1s. The last time was Kimi against Felipe (Massa) in 2009.
“So, the first time in ages that they have two No 1s and that’s going to be so cool to watch how they manage that internally, and Leclerc, how much respect Leclerc is going to have, it’s going to be really fun.”
Rosberg also spoke about the now-defunct Indian Grand Prix, which ran from 2011 to 2013 before being dropped from the calendar due to financial and tax issues.