Williams on par with Ferrari

(GMMf1NET) Williams' driving rookie Nico Rosberg reckons his 'FW28' racer is on a par with the similarly Bridgestone-shod 2006 Ferrari.

The German, F1's youngest driver and one of just three rookies (Yuji Ide, Scott Speed) set to debut in Bahrain this Sunday, thinks the new Cosworth-powered car is the fourth best in this season's F1 field.

''We are behind Renault, McLaren and Honda,'' Rosberg candidly told the 'Frankfurter Allgemeinen Sonntagszeitung' newspaper, ''and level with Ferrari.''

Like Ferrari and Toyota, Williams is a top team on Bridgestone tires in 2006. At present, the Japanese supplier appears in better shape than last year, but – at least in the cold of winter testing – Michelin still have the upper hand.

And Rosberg said of Williams' off-season: ''We had a few too many technical problems for my liking. When you are a rookie, each lap counts.''