Rosberg looks forward to Schumacher challenge

Nico Rosberg expected to be partnering up with defending world champion Jenson Button when he signed to race with Mercedes this year. However, Button opted to move on to McLaren and Mercedes soon announced that seven-time champion Michael Schumacher would be Rosberg’s team-mate for the 2010 season.

"It’s a fantastic opportunity for me and I’m really looking forward to the season,” said Rosberg. “To have Michael as your team-mate is the best team-mate you can have I think. It’s going to be very very challenging and very interesting for me. He brings a lot of experience but I look forward to it and I’m sure we’ll have a strong partnership.”

Testing of the new MGP W01 gets underway next week in Valencia with Rosberg behind the wheel.

“I am very thankful to do the first kilometres with the new Mercedes Formula One car, it’s going to be a special moment,” he said. “I’ve been working hard to integrate into the team and its worked very well. They have been friendly and very kind - I feel at home already.

“The targets are very high as the car is the world championship winning car from last year - so that is the target... to first of all win races and then we’ll see how it goes.”

Rosberg spent four years at Williams with the 2009 season proving his strongest with 34.5 points and seventh position in the championship.