Rosberg troubled by brakes, qualifies fourth

Nico Rosberg has admitted that he would have struggled to deny Mercedes team-mate Lewis Hamilton his third consecutive pole position of 2014 even if he hadn't spun on his last flying lap.

The German was already in catch-up mode at the time of the incident, which saw him put his right rear wheel off the track at the final corner. With soaking wet artificial turf bordering the road, the W05 was sent into a looping spin with the chequered flag in sight, ending Rosberg's chance of improving his position.

With his first flying lap good enough only for fourth at that point, the world championship leader faces the prospect of starting not only behind Hamilton, but also the two Red Bulls, which benefited from the wet conditions to close the gap to Mercedes.

"I was trying a little bit too hard there at the end, but I was slower anyway on that last lap, so I just had to give it a go in the final corner and see if I could somehow magically pull back the time," Rosberg conceded, "It didn't quite work out, but it didn't really change much as I just wasn't quick enough in general."

The German revealed that he had been battling his brakes for much of the session, and admitted that, should race day also be wet, they would remain a concern.

"I'm just struggling on the brakes and that was why my last sector was so bad," he confirmed, "The braking was really difficult and I don't really feel to comfortable with them at the moment. It is a bit of a concern but, in the dry, it is less of a problem."