- Valencia Testing
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Mercedes off the pace - Brawn
ESPNF1 Staff
February 4, 2010
The new Mercedes has some minor problems according to Ross Brawn © Getty Images
Mercedes team principal Ross Brawn has admitted his new car is not as fast as some of its competitors, but is hoping to iron out its minor faults before the next test in Jerez.
Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg drove the MGP W01 at Valencia's Ricardo Tormo circuit this week, with Schumacher only managing the seventh fastest time overall behind Ferrari, Sauber, McLaren and Renault. Although testing times are notoriously misleading, Brawn conceded that Mercedes was slower than some of its competitors.
"On full tanks we didn't look too bad but we're a little bit off the pace and [there are problems with] the handling and balance of the car which we can fix for Jerez; we know what the problem is." he told BBC Sport. "Of course the other teams will be progressing as well. We are not as quick as Ferrari, and Lewis [Hamilton] looked quick on Tuesday, so it looks like we've got a bit of work to do. We are cracking exhausts and are having to change those every 150-200km. It's a problem we can fix but here it's difficult. We've got a handling imbalance because we are all learning about these tyres here and we've seen straight away some things we want done on the tyres which we'll have done by Jerez."
After testing the car Schumacher said he would be aiming for some strong points finishes at the start of the season rather than race wins.
"It is a long season, and we need to be there, we need to be taking good points at the beginning," he said. "I wouldn't expect to be winning right from the beginning. It was not something that I was aiming for or expecting to be the case."
The Mercedes will return to the track next Wednesday at Jerez where it will be joined by the majority of the 2010 field, including the new Red Bull.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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