• Australian Grand Prix - FP2

Schumacher pleased with promising Mercedes

Michael Schumacher: "It is good to see that we were competitive in different circumstances" © Sutton Images

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• Race:
• Australian Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Michael Schumacher

• Teams:
• Mercedes

Michael Schumacher is happy with Mercedes' competitive start to the Australian Grand Prix weekend, but warned against reading too much into the times.

Schumacher set the fastest time in the second practice session and the third fastest time overall behind the two McLarens. Rain ahead of both sessions made it hard to draw conclusions, but Schumacher said it was a positive first day for Mercedes.

"Today was a nice start into a hopefully exciting season, and certainly two promising sessions for us," he said. "However, I would not go so far as to speak about being confident, as the weather conditions were too mixed to gain a clear picture.

"We know what Friday sessions are for and don't know what fuel loads others were running. On the other hand, it is good to see that we were competitive in different circumstances today and that the car provides good handling - I just feel it."

Despite the decent lap times, Mercedes motorsport president Norbert Haug said the main focus had been on race pace.

"A decent start for us on this first Friday of the new Formula One season," Haug added. "Michael felt well in our new car, as did Nico. Both drivers concentrated on race simulations with different programmes, and both were on the medium tyres as the team took the decision to save a set of options for the better track conditions tomorrow. Our team worked perfectly today which gave us a good start into the new season."

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