(Mercedes AMG F1 Team)
The Mercedes AMG F`1 Team head to the opening race of the European season, the Spanish Grand Prix at the Circuit de Catalunys next weekend as the team to beat having won all of the opening four Grand Prix of the season.
Nico Rosberg is currently leading the Driver's championship after winning the opening race of the season Down Under in Melbourne, Australia and since then the German has finished in the runner up position to his team mate Lewis Hamilton in Bahrain, Malaysia and China. As a result of their extremely strong start to the 2014 season the Brackley based outfit head to Barcelona with a 97 point advantage over Red Bull Racing in the Constructors championship.
Speaking ahead of the race next weekend, Paddy Lowe, the team's Executive Director (Technical) believes that the Spanish Grand Prix will show the Silver Arrows true advantage over their rivals. Lowe said:
'The break in on-track action presents an opportunity to work on the cars and to bring more new parts to the next event than you would see during back-to-back race weekends. Aside from being the first European race of the season, Barcelona is classically seen as the first big milestone for upgrades from the teams and we can expect to see quite a range of developments throughout the pit lane.
The circuit itself is highly demanding on the cars: arguably requiring the best combination of power, handling and aerodynamics seen during the entire season. It's often said that a car which performs well in Barcelona will be a great car for the season, so we're looking forward to seeing where we stand relative to the competition. There has been no sense of complacency or backing off just because our car has shown strong performance in the opening few races. The objective is to not only match, but to better the development rate of our rivals and to build on our lead in both championships.'
Mercedes motorsport boss Toto Wolff is hopeful that the team can extend their advantage over the coming race's with the Austrian saying:
'The first European round of the year always provides a prime opportunity for teams to arrive with improvements to their cars. Of course, we are no different to any other team in that respect and our aim must be to increase the advantage we enjoyed at the last race in China. We have seen already that our rivals are relentless in their efforts to close the gap.
As a team, it is up to us to rise to that challenge: to take that relentless mentality to an even greater extent than those around us. If we are to build a sustained level of success in this sport, any small advantage must be seen as a platform upon which to build a bigger advantage. We head to Barcelona on good form and in high spirits. But, most importantly, we approach the next race weekend as we approached the first: in the knowledge that there is still a long season ahead and anything can happen.'
The Mercedes driver's are looking forward to the opening race in Europe and Lewis Hamilton is hoping to make it four Grand Prix victories in a row for the first time in his career. Last season Hamilton started the race on the front row alongside team mate Nico Rosberg. Hamilton said:
'It's been good to have a bit of a break between races: for us as drivers and also for the team who have been working flat out for so many weeks. But after three great weekends in Malaysia, Bahrain and China I am obviously keen to get on to the next one and continue that momentum into the next leg of the season.
Barcelona is a great place to have the first European round on the calendar. It's a circuit we all know very well - although this is this the first time in my Formula One career that I have raced there without testing at the circuit during the Winter - and the Spanish crowds are really passionate about their racing.
It's great to see so many people in the Grandstands over the weekend. I have never won in Barcelona but I'm in a good place right now and I am hoping that this will be the year, although it's clear who the fan's favourite will be!
The circuit is fantastic, our car has performed well so far and I'm really looking forward to a good race.'
Nico Rosberg heads to Barcelona hoping to secure his race win since the opening race of the season and to extend his four point advantage over Lewis Hamilton at the top of the Drivers championship. The German said:
'The Spanish Grand Prix is the first race of the season on European soil after four exciting races at various circuits overseas. This is where the next phase of the season and there is probably no other track in the world that I know as well as the Circuit de Barcelona Catalunya.
I also have some good memories of race weekends in Barcelona. Last year, for example, I started from pole position so I am looking forward to going back there again and maybe repeating that particular feat again.
It's also only now that we can slowly begin to get an idea of how the different cars stack up in terms of performance. Each team will have been pushing hard during the break since the last race to find some extra performance from new parts.
So it will certainly be an interesting weekend and hopefully an exciting one for the fans.'
Whatever happens at the Spanish Grand Prix, Mercedes are guaranteed to leave Barcelona leading both championships.
©Ben Johnston 2014
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