- Australian GP - FP2
Rosberg expects 'nip and tuck' pole fight with Hamilton
Nico Rosberg says he will need to hook up the perfect lap to beat Lewis Hamilton to pole position in Australia despite topping both Friday practice sessions.
Mercedes was a class apart from the rest on the opening day of the 2015 season in Melbourne as Rosberg led a pair of one-two finishes, though Mercedes team-mate Hamilton was within a tenth in each session. Last year Rosberg out-qualified eventual world champion Hamilton and he expects a tough fight for the first pole of the year on Saturday.
"It's been generally a good start and I'm happy with today," Rosberg said. "Of course, with Lewis it's always nip and tuck, so it's always quite close and I need to nail it tomorrow and after tomorrow. For now I haven't found the car balance 100%; the long run was okay but the short run had much too much oversteer for now - oversteer is when the back of the car steps out all the time and it's very risky to drive.
"There's a bit too much of that so I need to work on that this evening, but it's such a mission because there are so many set-up options we can use to get the car right that it's almost infinite. To know which one is the right one so that you are not just masking the issue with another parameter is really complicated."
Rosberg admits he is watching the pace of Mercedes' rivals but says the main concern is still the man on the other side of the garage.
"We always have an eye on the other teams, but definitely it has been a good day for us and a good start so we are very confident for tomorrow. But of course with Lewis it is super close and it's always going to be a battle. We just need to nail it to be in front tomorrow and after tomorrow."
© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
