Pirelli downplays Mercedes tyre issues

Michael Schumacher and Nico Rosberg had delivered a strong performance in qualifying in Melbourne, but their race turned into a disappointment - as a gearbox problem and tyre issues hampered both men.

Although Mercedes itself is targeting a better set-up to improve the tyre degradation situation, Pirelli motorsport director Paul Hembery actually thinks its problems looked worse than they are because of the way the Albert Park race panned out.

When asked by AUTOSPORT about what he thought of the Mercedes situation, Hembery said: "I have read a lot of comments about that, and a few people have asked me about degradation in Melbourne - but you have to look at the context of the race.

"I don't think Michael was in a situation that you could judge. He was going extremely well until he stopped [with a gearbox problem].

"And Nico was either in a position where he was attacking cars in front or defending a position. That made him more aggressive than he ordinarily would be, because to try and overtake you have to be very aggressive.

"So you have to look at it under the context of how much pressure he was under. That probably was a major factor in that."