Formula One news

Mercedes keen to have German driver

Norbert Haug, vice president for Mercedes-Benz Motorsport, has made no secret of the fact that the German manufacturer would like to see a fellow countryman in one of its cars. With Mercedes being co-owners of the McLaren team, the likes of Nico Rosberg, Timo Glock and Nick Heidfeld have already been loosely linked with the outfit.

No German driver has been part of McLaren since Heidfeld's testing role with the team in 1999, although Mercedes admits that a German driver in a German-powered car would be an attractive proposition. "Rumours…we have never commented, but Nico Rosberg deserves a Formula One knighthood," Haug told the German SID press agency. "He's blitzed some races this season, most recently at the Nürburgring as he moved from 15th on the grid to fourth at the finish in what is a good car but certainly not the best in the field."

Williams have remained resolute in their retaining of Nico Rosberg

The current line-up sees British World Champion Lewis Hamilton racing alongside Finland's Heikki Kovalainen for the second consecutive season - what kind of different effect would a German have behind the car's steering wheel? "I will by no means exclude that fact that we have already tried to have a German driver onboard," Haug admitted. "There have been attempts in the last ten years for Michael Schumacher, Nico Rosberg and Sebastian Vettel; all of them existing contracts with other teams at the time so, of course, we have respected those.

"I understand all fans, especially our German fans, desire to see a German driver in the car. We must always set up in such a way that we can win races and championships but if a German driver could succeed with us it would be a better still."

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