Mercedes keeps working with eye on 2012

The signs are growing stronger that Mercedes are turning their winning ambitions towards the 2012 season.

Although the German squad has not given up on the current W02 car, team boss Ross Brawn said recently Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg will need to wait until next season to have truly "excellent" machinery in their hands.

Rosberg confirmed to Auto Motor und Sport that the car’s problems are fundamental.

"It will be difficult to be on top this year," the German is quoted by Auto Motor und Sport. "Our aim must therefore be to get closer."

Schumacher added: "We’re working on it, and everything that we put in now could be very important for next year.

"We are losing time with the problems we have while the others make progress. So we have to solve it this year or we will drag them (the problems) into next season."

It is not an abundant quality in the F1 world, but the seven time world champion is calling on those critical to be patient.

"We are in the process of building something new. I am sure that Ross and I know how things are built internally and the approach of this team is in the right direction," said 42-year-old Schumacher.

"It takes time. Red Bull needed four or five years. With Ferrari that period lasted for five years. We can not play with some magic and do it in half a year."