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Mercedes' Ross Brawn thinks opposing tyre strategies will serve to create tense German GP

Team boss also admits tyre degradation still Merc question mark

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Mercedes boss Ross Brawn is expecting the German GP to prove an absorbing slow-burner with the success - or otherwise - of opposing tyre strategies not becoming clear "until the last five laps" of Sunday's race.

With Hamilton, Mercedes start in the best position to claim their second victory inside two weeks with the polesitter himself confident that he can give the two Red Bulls, which start second and third, "a run for their money". Mercedes look to have got a handle on their tyre-degradation Achilles' heel over recent races but with the hottest temperatures of the week expected at the Nurburgring on Sunday, and the race debut of Pirelli's revised tyres, Brawn is reserving judgement. "That's still a question mark," he said when asked about tyre degradation. "With the tyre we had over the last few races, we managed to get that to work a little bit better, but tomorrow's forecast is for it to be very hot here and it's a different tyre which none of us have raced on. "I have to say Red Bull's long runs on Friday were pretty ominous, but tomorrow is a different day, the track's changed, it's hotter and I hope we can get the car in the right place." Mercedes' long-standing tyre-wear woes have always become more pronounced in warmer conditions and Brawn added: "We're expecting ten to 15 degrees more track temperature than we saw on Friday so it will make a difference - but it will make a difference to all the teams. "I hope we've made some progress in that respect and we can compete in those conditions. But we won't know until tomorrow." Remember you can watch the German GP live from the Nurburgring with a Sky Sports Day Pass from NOW TV. For more information, visit http://bit.ly/19YBfbx

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