Nico Rosberg is hopeful Formula 1’s rule changes for 2019 will at least end the dominance of Mercedes.
This season sees the German’s former team bid for a sixth consecutive double championship triumph, a run which includes Rosberg’s own world title in 2016.
However, with Ferrari moving level over the past two years and Red Bull closing in, the 33-year-old think the new aero rules could finally be the tipping point.
“This year, everything resets to zero because of the rule changes,” he told Germany’s DPA news agency.
“Perhaps Mercedes will no longer be the dominant force. I’m really looking forward to seeing that.”
Rosberg also isn’t ruling out a threat from within Mercedes, as Valtteri Bottas faces a pivotal season with his future under threat.
“If he has a good start and Lewis loses some of his motivation, which sometimes happens to him, a lot can change,” Nico believes.
Also Read:
- Toto Wolff slams 2019 rule changes as an attempt to ‘damage’ Mercedes
- Hamilton issues warning to his rivals ahead of Mercedes shakedown
As for where the main threat to the dominance of Mercedes will come from, Rosberg thinks there is a question mark over whether Sebastian Vettel will again lead the charge.
“Of course the pressure is very big [on Vettel and Ferrari],” he said. “They have now had two chances, last year in particular, and they didn’t use them.”
Then there’s the arrival of Charles Leclerc which could shake things up at the Scuderia.
“I am sure we will have a lot of fun because the boy is really on the gas,” Rosberg noted.
“He is on a different level to Kimi [Raikkonen], who was clearly number two. Leclerc goes straight to number one and it will to exciting to see how Sebastian deals with it.”