Mercedes GP Petronas hopes for better results in Malaysian GP

MALACCA: The Mercedes GP Petronas Formula One (F1) team hopes to steer better performances at the Petronas Malaysian Formula 1 Grand Prix at 'home' after a dismal show at the opening round in Melbourne, Australia. "I am really looking forward to the race this weekend because it is one of our home race. Although we had a disappointing race in Australia, we hope to recover and show the performance we had shown in our winter testing," said former world champion Michael Schumacher.

The Mercedes GP Petronas team was unable to finish their race at Albert Park in Melbourne due to a puncture and accidental damage. Schumacher and his team-mate Nico Rosberg were here Tuesday, visiting the Petronas Melaka Refinery Complex in Sungai Udang. The visit was in conjunction with Petronas' announcement that it would be supplying its total fluid solutions package fuel, engine oils, hydraulic, gear oil and transmission fluid for the team starting with the Malaysian F1 Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit on April 8-10. Rosberg meanwhile, said he hoped to repeat his 2010 achievement at the Sepang Circuit. "We have to work hard to put everything back on track. It is difficult to predict where we will be at the moment," said Rosberg.

At last year's championship, Rosberg gave local fans enough reasons to cheer when he finished third at the Sepang Circuit. Asked whether he was satisfied with his F1 machine, Rosberg said: "No, not yet. We are not where want to be." Besides having a closer look at the downstream activities of the refinery, both drivers joined 135 primary school children from Sekolah Kebangsaan Sungai Udang, Sekolah Kebangsaan Tangga Batu and Sekolah Kebangsaan Pantai Kundor, in a Petronas educational outreach programme.

- Bernama