Nico Rosberg expects Mercedes to lead the way this season , hailing his team as the best in Formula One . Rosberg will renew his championship battle with team-mate Lewis Hamilton when the season gets underway at the traditional Albert Park curtain raiser in Melbourne on Sunday . Mercedes won 16 of the 19 races last term , and their ominous form in pre-season testing sees them start the new campaign as clear title favourites . Nico Rosberg takes a selfie under the gaze of the world 's media as he poses with this year 's trophy . The German finished runner-up to Lewis Hamilton this year and will renew his battle with the Briton in 2015 . ‘ We are looking good and we are very optimistic for the new season , ’ said Rosberg , who finished runner-up to team-mate Hamilton in 2014 . ‘ We are the best in F1 now . We have the best individual departments , we have the best overall team , we have the best engine factory – they ’ re just doing an awesome job . Our race team is leading the way. ’ Damon Hill , the 1996 world champion , suggested earlier this week that Rosberg must re-invent himself in order to challenge Hamilton for the championship . Rosberg was all smiles as he stepped off the tram outside the Albert Park Circuit on Wednesday . Lewis Hamilton , pictured with Kanye West and Kim Kardashian , will fight with Rosberg for this year 's title . And the German , winner of the last year ’ s season opener in Melbourne , has conceded that he must improve this term if he is going to prevent Hamilton from winning a third title . ‘ I have to be that little bit better , ’ said Rosberg , who won six fewer races than his team-mate last season . ‘ Last year wasn ’ t quite enough and I just need to try to look for a little bit extra. ’ Rosberg presented this year ’ s Australian Grand Prix trophy to the assembled media on Wednesday after boarding a tram to the Albert Park circuit . ' I have focussed on pushing myself even harder for the rematch with Lewis , 'he added . 'In the end , it comes down to who can put the best season together overall , and I have to make sure it 's the other way around this time . ' Hamilton beat team-mate Rosberg to last year 's championship after a thrilling title battle .
Nico Rosberg expects his Mercedes team to lead the way this season . Mercedes won 16 of the 19 races last term and look set to dominate again . Rosberg will renew his title battle with Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton . He finished runner-up to the British driver in 2014 , and says he will 'look for a little bit extra ' in bid to claim his first Formula One world championship . CLICK HERE for all the latest Australian Grand Prix 2015 build-up .