Mercedes drivers hoping for wet race

Bad luck with traffic and a set-up gamble meant neither Rosberg nor Schumacher were able to make it past Q2 - and, with both facing grid penalties, they will now start the Spa event near the back of the field.

Althoughit struggled on Saturday, the team is keeping its fingers crossed that the mixed weather conditions that have blighted the Belgian GP remain in place for the race.

Team principal Ross Brawn said: "We are hoping for rain of course. With Nico in particular, when we knew he had to drop five places, he went for quite a soft set-up with emphasis on wet performance.

"It is interesting when you are in our position, that you can be more adventurous in the decisions you make in difficult races because you have got little to lose and it can sometimes work out.

"In both races on Saturday [GP2 and GP3] there were safety cars right at the beginning, and that could work out for us as well. We will be pretty adventurous and if there are changeable conditions or safety cars we will try and take advantage of them."

Rosberg said about his situation: "It is not definitely ideal, with both of us getting penalties. But knowing that I was going to start between 13th and 17th, I went for a quite aggressive rain set-up, so I am hoping for rain.

"That will be a good chance to achieve something. In wet conditions it felt quite good out there with slicks so I think we can do well if it rains. I hope."

Schumacher also thinks there is everything to play for if rain hits the races.

"We know that we are, out of our own efforts, unable to win the race - that is pretty clear to everybody," he said. "But with these particular weather conditions we will face this weekend, who knows what is going to happen. We just have to make sure to be ready for it."