Nico Rosberg says that he understands the feeling of pressure on the shoulders of Mick Schumacher, who will this year be racing in the European Formula 3 championship.

Schumacher Jr. has been analysed through and through as his father is Michael Schumacher, the most successful F1 driver of all time. Rosberg has expressed his sympathy for the 17 year old.

"Once you're asked about it 100 times, it starts to get on your nerves," said new world champion Rosberg, whose father is the 1982 title winner Keke. "The expectations are very high.

"I just read somewhere that Mick is a favourite for the F3 title. But he is only in his first year! Lewis (Hamilton) was fifth in his first year of Formula 3. In my opinion you need two years to be successful there," said Rosberg. "But if it's already being written that Mick is the favourite, then he can only disappoint.

"That's tough. I have a lot of sympathy for him because I know what it's like. I can only hope that he takes after his father and takes no notice of it," he added.

Fergal Walsh