Mercedes expects stronger Canadian Grand Prix race form after qualifying disappointment

On a weekend when many expected the team to fight for pole position and victory, Nico Rosberg could manage no better than fifth on the grid, with Michael Schumacher down in ninth after failing to start his final flying lap on time.

But despite that result, team principal Ross Brawn thinks the outfit has the potential to move forward and challenge for a podium finish.

Speaking about the team's prospects for the race, Brawn said: "Solid. We need things to come together to be challenging right at the front, but it is going to be a pretty solid race and the car seems good on high fuel with the work we were able to do.

"We may get some surprises with the tyres and hopefully we will manage the tyre situation well. So I think we can have a pretty respectable race."

When asked where he felt his drivers would have qualified if Rosberg had not lost preparation time in final practice, and Schumacher had been able to complete his lap, Brawn said: "I am sure there were a lot of people in the pitlane who said if they had a trouble-free day they would be a lot higher up the grid. But our car is OK.

"[Sebastian] Vettel did a very good time and I don't think we would necessarily be troubling that, but we would not be far behind. We just didn't have a clean session. Hopefully we will have a clean race and we can show full potential of the car."