Rosberg hoping race day unknowns will aid recovery

Nico Rosberg is hopeful lower track temperatures will aid his recovery from sixth on the grid in today's Austrian Grand Prix.

Mercedes struggled with blistering on the ultrasoft tyre during FP3 but still has to start on that tyre with both drivers having set their fastest time on the softest compound in Q2. Ferrari and Red Bull, however, both got through Q2 on the supersoft tyre to give themselves an apparent advantage at the start of the race.

Rosberg, however, believes the gains are marginal and believes lower temperatures in the race could play into his hands after a grid penalty.

Asked about the difference in tyre strategy compared to Red Bull and Ferrari, Rosberg replied: “Yeah but that’s not going to be much difference, both tyres are going to have big problems.

"[The race] is a big unknown because the temperature is expected to drop 20 degrees and who knows how the tyres are going to behave in 20 degrees less track temperature.

"We just have to wait and see, and maybe that unknown could be a little bit of a good thing for me starting sixth, I need a few good things coming my way."

Saturday saw track temperatures climb to over 50C at times in hot conditions. With two hours to go before the race, the air temperature at the Red Bull Ring is 13C and track temperature is 20C after heavy rain throughout the early morning.

Rosberg admits the suspension failure he suffered in FP3 - causing him to crash which resulted in a gearbox penalty - was frustrating having been fastest throughout Friday practice and looked favourite for pole position.

"I was just a bit frustrated because everything had gone perfectly up to that point. The whole preparation as good as ever and then such a curveball gets thrown into it. So I was just a bit frustrated but also I was glad to have a clear understanding of what happened because in the moment it’s not so obvious.

"Did I do something wrong? Because usually nothing breaks in the car, never. So at first I was like ‘damn’. But it’s good to get a clear reason because then you can put it to the side and move forward."