Nico Rosberg says he doesn't believe that Ferrari are yet capable of challenging for top spot in Formula 1. Instead, the 2016 world champion says he believes the best chance the Italian team have is when the sweeping technical regulation changes are introduced next season. With Ferrari consistently strong until the end of 2019, a disastrous campaign followed in 2020 and one that Rosberg believes was largely due to the engine changes required to keep the FIA satisfied with their legality following technical directives being issued ahead of the season. "They took a huge step back," Rosberg said in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport. "Mainly because of the engine they had to change due to the agreements with the FIA, but even Vettel himself surprised me with how he struggled because, for me, he remains one of the strongest." While the pre-season test in Bahrain has seen signs of improvement from Ferrari, there's no indication from the Italian team that they're quite ready to rejoin the battle at the front of the field - an assessment shared by Rosberg. "Let's hope it will come back a bit," Rosberg said. "It started badly in the test, let's hope they will recover soon and that they will get back on the right path to fight in front." "But it will be a long process. The real chance of returning to winning will only come in 2022". Rosberg believes that there could also be drama at Ferrari between their two drivers, with the incoming, experienced, Carlos Sainz aiming to change the dynamic in his favour. "He is strong," Rosberg said. "At the beginning of the season he will be behind [Charles] Leclerc, because he is already used to things and because, for Ferrari, he is the king, but Sainz can do well."
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