Jan.18 (GMM) Nico Rosberg says he agreed to switch to the Brackley based team in 2010 long before he knew Mercedes GP and Michael Schumacher would headline the project.

"I was in contact with several other teams. With Ross Brawn, it (the talks) started long ago, in the summer of 2009," he told the French newspaper La Tribune.

"At the time, the team was still Brawn GP. I signed with them in the hope that Mercedes would come, and I was not disappointed," said the 24-year-old German, who spent the first four seasons of his F1 career with Williams.

Asked to point out some of the differences between the two teams he has worked with, Rosberg explained: "There are lots of similarities between the two.

"It's just in some areas at Mercedes they're a notch above. They push more boundaries (than Williams)," he added.

While he was aware of the likelihood of a Mercedes deal, meanwhile, Rosberg admits he was surprised when it became clear he would likely be Schumacher's teammate for the seven time world champion's F1 return.

"I knew there were negotiations, but I knew it was happening for sure only just before it was official. And then it was something so incredible that, until the actual signing, you still weren't sure!"

Rosberg insists he welcomes Schumacher's return, despite numerous commentators debating whether the German is right to resume his record-setting career.

"His passion is driving, he's coming back to his passion -- who cares about the rest?" he said. "He is doing what he wants, and the most important thing in life is to have fun."

He also clarified his recent comments about preferring Mika Hakkinen over Schumacher.

Asked by La Tribune to name F1's best ever driver, Rosberg answered: "Schumacher is number 1. Then I think you can put Ayrton Senna and Fangio.

"Of those three, my favourite is Senna. I often talk about Mika Hakkinen, but he is not one of the all time best. He's just someone I like very much."

Latest F1 News - Mobile version

26 Feb: New Ferrari not quickest in field - Domenicali 26 Feb: Red Bull still best in 2013 - Tost 26 Feb: 2014 French grand prix 'possible' - Prost 26 Feb: Danica Patrick 'not interested' in F1 switch 26 Feb: Report - Gilles Simon working on F1 engine for Honda 26 Feb: Gutierrez plays down link to Carlos Slim 26 Feb: Caterham exhaust 'legal' insists van der Garde 26 Feb: McLaren replaces Mercedes-bound Lowe 25 Feb: 'Engine maps' trouble for Red Bull, Lotus - report 25 Feb: Mercedes-bound Lowe to miss 2013 opener - report 25 Feb: Mercedes 'in group of teams' behind Red Bull - Lauda 25 Feb: Gutierrez expects Hulkenberg to beat him early in 2013 25 Feb: New Ferrari 'much better' than 2012 - Massa 25 Feb: Teams 'will adapt' to new tyre situation - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Tight rules make today's F1 cars 'the same' - Forghieri 25 Feb: Williams removes controversial exhaust trick 25 Feb: Contract 'conflicts' cause of Marussia test snub - Razia 25 Feb: Lotus to fight Red Bull for title - Gutierrez 25 Feb: Marussia 'ahead of Caterham' - Chilton 25 Feb: Sutil will not stay in F1 as test driver The latest F1 News - Mobile Version