Rosberg wants to stay at eye-level with Schumacher

While Michael Schumacher has struggled to settle at the wheel of the W01, Nico Rosberg is enjoying a smoother ride in the sister Mercedes car.

He was comfortably the team’s pacesetter throughout the 2010 opener in Bahrain two weeks ago, as Schumacher grappled with understeer and the sport’s new formula including thin front tyres.

"I feel very comfortable in the car at the moment," said 24-year-old Rosberg ahead of the second round of the world championship in Australia.

"We do still have some small problems that need resolving."

Asked precisely where he is a better driver than seven time world champion Schumacher, the German told Bild newspaper: "Better than one of the best of all time?

"I cannot answer that," said Rosberg. "But no one is perfect, so there are certainly areas where I am strong."

Asked if he will again outpace Schumacher this weekend, the former Williams driver remained diplomatic.

"What I want this season is to be at eye-level with Michael. And I think that I can show a strong performance in Australia."

And despite beating Schumacher throughout practice, qualifying and the race in Bahrain, Rosberg said he does not draw confidence from the fact his teammate has won at Albert Park no fewer than four times.

"If I was to only draw my confidence from Michael’s statistics, then it would not be very good for me," he smiled.

He also backed Jenson Button’s claim that the 5pm start time for Sunday’s Melbourne race is potentially dangerous.

"If the sun is very low in the sky, it will be a big problem," he said, "especially with the high sides on the front of the cockpits this year."