The 24-year-old German-born son of 1982 champion Keke Rosberg said he was impressed by his Mercedes team’s rate of car development – and claimed he felt sure of enjoying a successful season.
But, despite outpacing and outracing 41-year-old seven-times champion and compatriot Schumacher in all four Grands Prix so far this year, he warned that he felt sure the senior man would fight back as the season unfolded.
He said: "We need to be careful about that because it is still very early days. And I can tell you, for sure, that in
"It was different again in
"I am convinced that I have improved and I am working hard enough to compete on his level or at least near it anyway so I think it should be a strong season for both of us and for the team."
Rosberg moved up to second place in the drivers’ championship when he finished third behind the McLaren pair’s one-two finish at the Chinese Grand Prix and, he said, that is where he wants to stay – or improve from.
"I am pleased with my championship position and I feel we have made the most of our first few races," said Rosberg.
"It is a good base to build on – second and with a car that is developing well. I saw what is going on with the car when I was in the factory a few days ago and it is very promising!"
Rosberg said he was reluctant to predict if or when he would have a winning car because of the unknown, at this time, rate of progress of his rivals.
"We’ll get a very good idea this weekend of where we are – and then we can make more realistic predictions and say if we are capable of catching Red Bull or not!"
Schumacher, 17 years older, remained as relaxed as ever as he looked ahead to this weekend’s action – despite trailing Rosberg by 40 points after just four races.
He said: "I’m very optimistic that things will go in the right direction. I’m pretty relaxed about what’s going on. I know that the car is not perfectly suited to me right now, but I haven’t expected to come here and blow everybody away. It’s a process and the process is going absolutely good.
"It’s a natural situation. So you have to stay calm and focused on what you know."
He played down the importance of running with a heavily-revised ‘new’ car this weekend.
"I’m afraid it’s not really a new car, quite honestly. There are a couple of new bits and pieces on it to make it quicker. I guess you have heard about various things, certainly the wheelbase is a bit longer and we have some aero updates. Those are the main two factors that we are bringing here. That’s it."
