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Mercedes not in a position to win - Rosberg

Nico Rosberg: "We must be realistic" © Getty Images

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• Race:
• Spanish Grand Prix

• Championship:
• FIA Formula One World Championship

• Drivers:
• Nico Rosberg

• Teams:
• Mercedes

Nico Rosberg has played down his Mercedes boss Ross Brawn's claim that he is close to winning his first grand prix.

Rosberg has outpaced team-mate Michael Schumacher at every race in 2010 so far and is second in the drivers' championship. After taking two podiums in the last two races and with major modifications coming to the car for the Spanish Grand Prix, Brawn said: "Nico is very close to winning a race."

But Rosberg told the German news agency DPA: "It would be nice, but we must be realistic. At Mercedes we are not yet in a position to win, but in the coming weeks we should make some big steps and I'm hoping to make good progress."

When asked if he was surprised to find himself as Mercedes' No. 1, he answered: "So far I'm very pleased with how my season has gone. I am especially happy to be second in the championship. I'm happy to have been ahead of Michael so far, but it is still too early to make comparisons."

Asked if he knows why he is faster than Schumacher, Rosberg said: "No. I only know that I have a good feeling with the car and am able to get a lot out of it."

As for the W01 winning in Barcelona this weekend, he insisted: "That would be expecting too much. But I do hope we can narrow the gap to Red Bull."

However, Red Bull boss Christian Horner does not agree that immediately aiming for race wins in Barcelona is an unrealistic target for Mercedes.

"Writing off teams and drivers [Schumacher] that have won world championships [is a] mistake you must never make," he said. "Things can change very quickly. That's why Mercedes could suddenly be in front in Barcelona." ye

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.