Haug: No team orders at Mercedes

The five-time DTM champion vowed to help Paul di Resta and Jamie Green in their battle with Audi for the second half of the season, but he will not be required to compromise his own race at the Spanish track.

Mercedes motorsport boss Norbert Haug told autosport.com: "Bernd can win the race, we need to get the situation straight. There is too much talk about support.

"We are fair players and this is motorsport, so we are always in favour of going for it. It's the victory that counts to us and we are fine as long as a Mercedes is at the front."

Schneider's pole position was described by some in the paddock as "the wrong Mercedes" after qualifying, but Haug disagreed with that remark.

"I have never experienced the wrong Mercedes winning and I never will," he added. "You can have the wrong car on pole but not when it is a Mercedes."

Schneider will be joined on the front row by championship leader Timo Scheider, while di Resta and Green start third and fifth respectively.