Frustrated Alonso hoping for wet race

The Spaniard, 10 points behind teammate Lewis Hamilton in the championship, will start from 10th place on the grid after being hit by a gearbox problem at the start of the final shootout.

Hamilton, meanwhile, qualified right behind pole-setter Felipe Massa.

Alonso was unable to return to the track after his problems and so failed to set a laptime.

Now the two-time champion is hoping that tomorrow's expected rain helps him recover from his low position.

"If something like this happens to my rivals tomorrow and if I manage to score good points I'm sure I won't remember today's frustration, but it is disappointing to not be able to complete a single lap," the Spaniard told reporters after qualifying.

"But maybe tomorrow I'll be the lucky one and the rest will be unlucky.

"It's a lot harder and a lot more dangerous to start from the middle of the grid, but maybe it rains.

"It will be hard, but if I have to choose I'd prefer a wet race which is always a bit of a lottery and maybe I can benefit from that tomorrow."