Weather change a boost to Mercedes in Austria

The world champion had expressed some concern after qualifying that Mercedes’ Q2 strategy of running the ultrasoft for its quickest laps was in contrast to that of his key rivals Ferrari and Red Bull who used supersoft rubber.

Both Mercedes drivers had suffered serious blistering issues within just a few laps when they ran the ultrasoft in FP3 on Saturday morning, suggesting that the tyre could require an early stop in the race.

Mercedes was surprised when the Ferrari and Red Bull drivers set their Q2 times on the supersoft, and tried to react by sending both Hamilton and Rosberg out on the tyre later in the session.

Rain meant that they were not able to improve, and thus have to start on the ultrasoft after all.

However, with temperatures much lower on Sunday - making conditions more suitable for the ultrasoft - and rain already rolling through the Red Bull Ring, Hamilton’s fears appear to be easing.

Speaking on Saturday evening, Hamilton had said: “This morning wasn't good. I didn't have many laps on the [ultrasoft] tyre. I was supposed to do 10 laps, and I did a lot less than that.

“So for sure it's a concern. It's going to be cooler tomorrow, so it may swing to a different result in terms of how the tyres are used.

“But I learned a lot from that. There's a lot of changes that I can do in my driving style to make them last longer. I'll try to apply that tomorrow. But who knows how long the supersoft is going to go?

"Ultimately my main competitor, which is Nico, is on the same tyre as me. That means we will both be in a similar situation, and I hope I can make them last.”

Meanwhile, Rosberg downplayed the choice, stressing that the weather could help.

“It's not going to be much different, because both tyres are going to have a big problems,” said the German. “Tomorrow is a big unknown, because the temperature is going to drop 20 degrees, and then who knows how the tyres are going to behave in 20 degrees less track temperature.

"Maybe that unknown could be a good thing for me, starting seventh [he will actually start sixth]. I need a few good things coming my way.”

Regarding the FP3 blistering problems, he joked: “What comes after severe? Catastrophic? Apocalyptic? Well Lewis got all the way to lap three, I got to lap five!”

Rosberg admitted that the team had attempted to change its choice when he and Lewis went out on supersofts before the rain came at the end of Q2.

“The thinking migrated towards maybe it would be a good idea to do a time on them and start the race on them, considering that all our competitors were supersoft, which was not expected before qualifying, that all of them would go on supersoft. You would expect a couple of them, but not all.”