F1: Rosberg: Heat halted running

The Mercedes duo has been trading fastest laps amongst themselves and the other Mercedes-powered teams. However, a race simulation at the final Bahrain test has revealed some weaknesses in the Mercedes’ cooling system. Based on his pure speed and consistency during the 3 pre-season tests, many have tipped Rosberg to be a strong contender for the 2014 title. Preparation to aid in his 2014 title quest seems to be going well as well, for while their closest rivals are still working on speed and reliability, the Mercedes works team have already begun doing setup work to make the W05 even faster.   That said, Rosberg isn’t sure that outright speed is the Brackley-based team’s  advantage. He firmly believes that reliability of their power unit is the key to having a slight advantage over their closest rivals. So far, the Mercedes powerplant seems to be the least problematic of the trio of engines. However, that doesn’t mean the team can get away with an easy test. A race simulation at Bahrain with temperatures similar to that of the first 4 races revealed a slight overheating issue that forced Rosberg to slow down. Pictures used for illustration purposes only.