Even Ferrari will be sniffing out the finer details of Nico Rosberg’s contract with Williams, according to Gerhard Berger.
Berger, who co-owns Scuderia Toro Rosso and is a former ten time grand prix winner, said he has been impressed this year with the 21-year-old German’s second season on the F1 grid.
“Alongside Lewis Hamilton, Nico is for me the superstar of the season,” the Austrian told the magazine Sport Bild.
Berger added: “He has become interesting for each and every grand prix team — Ferrari included.”
Rosberg’s current boss, Sir Frank Williams, probably sensed the growing swell of paddock interest in his driver, because he this week declared that Nico is already under contract “also for next year”.
“We want to finish fifth in the constructors’ championship and finish several times on the podium,” Williams said of his goals for 2007, “and then next year be even closer to the front.”
Even Nico’s veteran teammate Alex Wurz admits that Rosberg is “simply faster” than him at present, and his impressive speed in 2007 has inspired Williams’ usually petulant co-owner Patrick Head to offer praise.
“Nico is a great driver,” the Briton said, “and all he needs now is a super-fast car.
“We will try to give him one soon.”