( CNN ) -- With four different drivers winning each of the four races so far , 2012 is shaping up as one of the most open seasons in Formula One history . And with no clear favorite yet to emerge , Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg says his team is in a strong position to finally end a long title wait . The German marque has won only one race since returning to the elite division of motorsport in 2010 after an absence of half a century away , but Rosberg has hopes of emulating the 1954-55 world championship successes of legendary racer Juan Manuel Fangio . The 26-year-old 's win at the China Grand Prix last month was Mercedes ' first since Fangio 's victory in Italy in 1955 , and his first in 111 career starts . `` Before China we were really struggling in races and we worked hard and improved the car , modified the set up quite a lot with the car , '' Rosberg told CNN ahead of this weekend 's Spanish Grand Prix . `` We 're not the best yet , which is what we want to be soon , but we 're getting there and we were the best in China . `` It 's a difficult season also , everybody is a little bit up and down this year . In the championship I 'm in a really good position . We really need to focus and improve the car step by step and try and get the most out of it and try and get ahead of the others . '' The most open F1 season came in 1982 when at least 11 different drivers stood on top of the podium . But even then , Alain Prost of Renault won the first two races . Rosberg believes Mercedes is in a strong position to overcome the disappointments of the past two seasons . `` The team is just doing a much better job , they 're working together better . There 's even more competence now in the team . New people have joined and we 're getting there and we 're really growing quickly , '' he said . `` It 's taken longer for us and been more difficult than expected . But now we 're really on a roll and going in the right direction , and for everybody China was a very emotional moment . '' Rosberg 's veteran teammate Michael Schumacher has blamed F1 's sole tire supplier Pirelli for the unpredictable results in 2012 , but the younger German is keen to see the positives in an open season and said the difficult conditions at last month 's Bahrain Grand Prix were a great learning experience . The hot Middle Eastern country took its toll on tires , with McLaren 's former world champion Jenson Button suffering a puncture and retiring on the penultimate lap . His teammate Lewis Hamilton finished eighth , losing his championship lead to Red Bull 's Sebastian Vettel . Rosberg finished fifth after failing to repeat his China pace , and 43-year-old Schumacher was 10th after fighting his way up from the bottom of the grid . `` Bahrain was probably the toughest conditions tire-wise we 've had until now and there we were beating teams like McLaren , who until then had been dominating the season , '' Rosberg said . Mercedes , meanwhile , has downplayed reports it could be set to quit F1 . British newspaper The Times claimed the UK-based team could be forced out over a power dispute arising from F1 's proposed stock exchange flotation . It said Mercedes would miss out on a boardroom place despite its large investment as an engine manufacturer in the past two decades , while rival teams Red Bull , Ferrari and McLaren would all be given representation by F1 chief Bernie Ecclestone . However a Mercedes spokesman told CNN : `` We are in discussions with the commercial rights holder and we would like to ask for your understanding that we are not currently commenting on these discussions . ''
This year is shaping up to be the most open in F1 history with four different race winners . Mercedes ' Nico Rosberg says team is in strong position to take advantage . German tells CNN that improvements to car and open season could be perfect conditions . Comment: