May 7 (GMM) Mercedes seems the prime mover in Turkey as pundits consider the pecking order ahead of qualifying.

After mounting a podium challenge in China three weeks ago, Nico Rosberg came close to topping Friday's dry session at Istanbul Park.

Norbert Haug denied that victory is now plainly in sight, Rosberg instead agreeing with his teammate Michael Schumacher's prediction that Mercedes is now on the heels of Red Bull and McLaren.

"That is our aim for this weekend -- to leave Istanbul as number three in the pecking order," the 25-year-old German said.

Ferrari might have made a slight improvement to its package for Turkey but three-time Istanbul winner Felipe Massa agrees that Mercedes is the team on the move.

"It looks like the team that has made most progress is Mercedes," he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

Agreed Fernando Alonso: "I think we've made progress but there are a few teams quicker than us."

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