Hamilton: Strong result still possible

The McLaren driver has managed just six timed laps until now, having crashed at the start of yesterday's first practice session.

Today's practice was washed out and Hamilton did not even set a time, while qualifying has been postponed to Sunday.

Despite all the problems, Hamilton says he will go for it in the race and reckons he can still achieve a good result.

"It has not been the most convenient of events," said Hamilton, 20 points behind championship leader Mark Webber. "I think I have only done six laps in the day and a half - six timed laps really - and this is a circuit where the more laps you get the more you can push and the more you can find the limit.

"And so practice of course is a huge benefit but the situation is the way it is and this evening I will prepare myself in the same way I always do - and there is no reason why we still cannot get a good result here as we have been driving all year, so I am game. I'm going to go for it."

The Briton, who has crashed out of the last two races, admitted the extra time to prepare the car will be welcome by his mechanics.

"We knew the whole time that it was not good as the rain never let off," he said. "It was inevitable that it wasn't going to go ahead so we were just waiting for them to say it was going to happen on Sunday.

"It gives the guys in the garage a little bit more time to prepare the cars and do an even more of a solid job than they have done.

"I guess the guys are always on a real short timescale so this gives them a little bit more time, tomorrow will be exciting, tomorrow will be exciting and I am looking forward to it - hopefully it will be nothing like it is today."