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Mercedes currently outside top ten - Haug

ESPNF1 Staff
February 21, 2011 « Virgin still lacks downforce - Glock | »
Norbert Haug: "We had been hampered by having to cut holes because of temperature problems" © Sutton Images
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Despite Nico Rosberg setting the fastest time of the Barcelona test on Sunday afternoon, Mercedes boss Norbert Haug does not believe the car would finish in the top ten if a race was held today.

Both Rosberg and team-mate Michael Schumacher have played down the pace of the new W02 in recent weeks and the team has struggled with a few reliability issues. But Haug has admitted that the car would not even feature in the points if it went up against the competition in its current specification.

"We know that at the moment our car is not good enough for the top ten, but we had been hampered by having to cut holes because of temperature problems, and also Nico had been without KERS," he told Auto Motor und Sport. "Our plan is that with our new aerodynamics package we close much of the gap and have the car good enough for the podium."

The W02's upgrades are scheduled for the final test, and with those improvements in mind, Schumacher is still targeting a return to the winners' circle.

"Our goal is the same as it was a few weeks ago," he told Speed Week. "With this car we want to be on the podium and, if things go well, maybe win a race."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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