16/03/2013
NEWS STORY
Mat Coch writes:
Lewis Hamilton has joined the growing chorus of drivers supporting the decision to postpone qualifying until Sunday morning.
Hamilton was one of those caught out by the tricky conditions during the first twenty minute segment, sliding backwards in to a barrier at turn two, a mistake of his own making he subsequently confessed. The Mercedes driver then struggled to get going again after his car became beached on the sodden grass, finally managing to free his car by reversing down the circuit. "You've got to laugh those things off and keep looking forward," he said afterwards.
The already tricky conditions were made worse by black paint used to cover line markings on much of the normally public road. "As soon as you hit those lines the car slides and aquaplanes and oversteers," Hamilton explained. "That's why you saw so many people going off.
"It was dangerous out there, and this track is incredibly dangerous with the black paint they have which is covering the old existing white paint," he added. "It makes it like driving on ice through those parts."
Tomorrow's second and third phase of qualifying commences at 11:00 local time (midnight UK) ahead of the race at 17:00 (06:00 UK). Forecasts at this stage predict sunny, slightly cloudy conditions for qualifying with temperatures in the mid-teens (Celsius) for qualifying, with rain expected shortly after the race start.
Check out our Saturday gallery, here.