Rubens sends stark warning to Rosberg

Date published : 02 Feb 2010 - 11:41:14

Rubens Barrichello has warned Nico Rosberg he faces a huge challenge if he wants to beat Michael Schumacher in their head-to-head battle at Mercedes this year. New Williams driver Barrichello experienced life alongside seven-time world champion Schumacher at Ferrari in 2000-2005, the Brazilian forced to play the dutiful number two' role on several high-profile occasions to help the German's title bids. And asked at Valencia on Monday for the advice he would give to Rosberg about being team-mate to the returning superstar, Barrichello joked that the 24-year-old should consider a future elsewhere already. Get out of there! he replied. That's the only thing I can you tell. Drive fast, don't crash [Mercedes GP boss] Ross [Brawn] would always tell you that before a race. Barrichello stressed that he did rate Rosberg highly, but that he just thinks that Schumacher who outpaced his new team-mate on his first day back in F1 machinery on Monday poses an almost insurmountable challenge.  I think so yes, he replied when asked if Rosberg is going to find it a struggle. He's very talented and I wish him all the very best. Maybe tomorrow morning you can see the newspaper Rubens telling Nico to get out of there'. But I'm not being bad about it. Knowing what I know and seeing how fast Michael went today and so on, it's going to be a tough job." He added, however, that should Rosberg become the first driver to beat Schumacher in the same car on a consistent basis then he would never have to fear any other driver. I wish him all the best because I think he is a talented boy who can be world champion," Barrichello added. If he has the chances of being world champion in the same team as Michael then he can be world champion anywhere, let's put it this way. Earlier in the day, Rosberg who has promised parity with Schumacher at Mercedes admitted having F1's most successful ever driver as his team-mate was a source of extra motivation. "For me it's a great thing - to have him here is fantastic," he said. "It has given me a little bit extra motivation I must say from my point of view. Just that little touch extra, to have him there. "But it's a good thing."