Your Source for all the Latest News in Real World and Virtual Motor Sports

VALENCIA, Spain — “Get out of there, that is the only thing I can tell him. He needs to drive fast and don’t crash: Ross (Brawn) will always tell you that before the race.”

That was the advice Michael Schumacher’s former Ferrari teammate Rubens Barrichello gave to Schumacher’s new Mercedes teammate Nico Rosberg.

Media members not at the Barrichello interview — and those who were not even at the Valencia test — interpreted this as a dire warning to Rosberg and blew it out of proportion. National Speed Sport News was there and can report that Barrichello said it while grinning with mock sincerity.

“You will see the newspapers saying, ‘Rubens tells Nico to get out of there,’” Barrichello, getting serious, added, “but I am not being bad about it. Knowing what I know, and seeing how fast Michael went today, it is going to be a tough job. I wish (Nico) all the best because I think he is a talented boy who can be world champion. If he has the chances of being world champion in the same team as Michael, then he can be world champion anywhere.”

Journalists who had merely read Barrichello’s comments dutifully trotted off to get Rosberg’s reaction.

“From his point of view, he (Barrichello) was beaten for six years (as Schumacher’s teammate) I guess, so maybe from him he doesn’t surprise me that he says that,” Rosberg said.

Rosberg knows he is in for a tough test going up against Schumacher in equal equipment. After more than three years out of current Formula One cars, Schumacher was immediately quick when he climbed back into the cockpit of the new Mercedes. He lapped quicker than Rosberg.

“I am really amazed,” Schumacher reflected. “There was absolutely no adapting period, or it was rather short.

“When I left the pits I told myself, ‘Oops, this car is bloody quick!’ But already on lap two I was not thinking any more about the higher speed,” Schumacher said.

“In (my Formula One debut in) 1991 it had been exactly the same. I was stunned how quick an F-1 car was on lap one and on lap two I had forgotten about it and attacked.”

Some photos from some angles seem to show his neck is at a skewed angle. Schumacher, in peak physical shape, reported no problems with his neck. He will be a formidable force this season. And Rosberg, far from getting out, is looking forward to the challenge.