Former Mercedes F1 World Champion Apparently “Not Qualified” To Drive EQXX Concept

Nico Rosberg has proven, if nothing else, over the course of his career, that he is a capable driver. The 2016 Formula 1 champion, though, is apparently not qualified to drive a 241 HP EV.

In his latest video focusing entirely on one of Mercedes’ latest concepts, the wildly engineered Vision EQXX, Rosberg was prevented from actually driving the car. He may have a super license but he doesn’t have an R&D license.

That’s a little unusual when you consider that, although the EQXX’s drivetrain was developed with the Mercedes-AMG Petronas F1 Team, its power isn’t really the point. Everything about the EQXX is focused on getting the car to go farther not faster.

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Indeed, thanks to incredible aerodynamics, a 100 kWh battery pack, and solar cells on the roof, the concept was actually able to drive 1,008 km (626 miles) on a single charge and still had juice left in the proverbial tank to go farther.

This being a one-off, though, I suppose it makes sense that Mercedes only wants certain people to drive it. That meant that even its former F1 driver had to cede the wheel to Boris, one of the automaker’s R&D engineers, with whom Rosberg is impressed, saying he did a great job.

He’s also impressed by the car, which he says feels light or, at least, feels like it has a low center of gravity. When he asks to see how fast it can go, he’s also impressed by the acceleration, which does push him back in his seat.

And that makes sense, although we’re used to hearing about obscene power figures in new EVs, history has taught us that 241 hp (180 kW/245 PS) in a relatively light car is plenty of power for your average daily driver.