Lewis Hamilton says he has no idea if Mercedes will be competitive again this weekend after both of Friday’s practice sessions at the Japanese Grand Prix were run in the wet.
The construction leaders mysteriously struggled in Singapore last week and Nico Rosberg and Hamilton had been aiming to lay down their marker in Suzuka to prove it was just a fluke.
But as Formula One returned to the track for the first time since Jules Bianchi’s crash, the rain pelted down and few competitive times were able to be set.
Red Bull driver Daniil Kvyat was fastest on Friday after topping the timesheets in the second session as Hamilton finished third, just behind his team-mate.
‘I have no idea [if we are in a strong position],’ the 30-year-old World Champion said. ‘It was just slippery and wet, with aquaplaning, so not the most exciting conditions.
‘I didn't want to take too many risks today, either damaging the car or gearbox, so we just practiced starts and got a couple of laps in – there wasn't much to learn.’
Rosberg meanwhile felt the times were representative, with Red Bull enjoying the figure-of-eight circuit here in Suzuka.
Sebastian Vettel, who is eight points behind Rosberg and 49 adrift of leader Hamilton in the standings, may find it difficult to make up the ground here.
The Ferrari driver dominated at Marina Bay but was down in fifth in FP2.
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