Rosberg joins Mercedes F1 team for 2010

The Mercedes Formula One team named Nico Rosberg as one of their 2010 drivers yesterday while failing to kill off speculation that retired champion Michael Schumacher could partner him in an all-German line-up.

Rosberg, son of Finland's 1982 world champion Keke, will be the first German to race for a factory Mercedes team since Karl Kling and Hans Herrmann competed for the old 'Silver Arrows' in 1955.

The 24-year-old has spent the last four seasons at Williams, with second place in Singapore last year his best result in 70 starts.

Mercedes have been partners to McLaren, who will have an all-British line-up next year with Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button, since 1995 but have now taken over British-based champions Brawn GP.

Brawn, who emerged from the remains of the Honda team, won both titles in their debut 2009 season with Button and Brazilian Rubens Barrichello, who has taken Rosberg's place at Williams.

"It's quite a special thing," Rosberg told reporters. "It's about time that a German was in a Silver Arrow again."

Rosberg, whose signing was an open secret in Formula One circles, expected to win races next year.

"For sure I am going to have a great car and I really believe that I am going to be able to take them (Hamilton and Button) on," he said, naming also Ferrari and Red Bull as leading rivals.

Team principal Ross Brawn, who worked with Keke, described Nico as a great talent and "a driver who will be able to make a valuable contribution to our team right from the outset."

Mercedes have yet to name the second driver, amid persistent rumours that seven-times champion Schumacher could come out of retirement at the age of 41 to fill the vacancy left by Button.

Asked to rule out the possibility, Mercedes motorsport vice-president Norbert Haug and Brawn chief executive Nick Fry both failed to do so.

"We are here today to talk about Nico and I think we should stick to that subject," said Fry.

"I fully understand that these speculations are ongoing as long as we did not announce who is driving the other car, but that's what we have to live with at the moment," added Haug.

"When will you ever say categorically anything in Formula One?" continued the German.

Schumacher's spokeswoman said at the weekend that she considered a return "highly unlikely at the moment".

Rosberg said he did not mind who Mercedes signed, providing he was a team player, but would not comment on Schumacher.

Finland's 2007 champion Kimi Raikkonen, who has announced plans to take a year out after leaving Ferrari, could be another option while Germany's Nick Heidfeld is also available.