Hakkinen unimpressed by third

The Finn kept being outfoxed by the changing weather, setting the provisional pole time on two occasions before being elbowed down the orders as conditions improved.

'I'm naturally disappointed to be third,' he said. 'I don't think my car was performing as well as David's today. The car set-up wasn't perfect but it's not a big problem.

'It was not 100 per cent in any of the practices. Qualifying proved that the car is not optimum for me and we were not able to make changes quick enough for me.

'But we've just got to be happy with what we have got.'

The Finn will perform in front of an estimated 3,000 Mercedes guests on the German engine manufacturer's home track.

'It is a great thing to have so many Mercedes and McLaren fans but you are concentrating on driving so much you do not see the grandstands,' Hakkinen admitted.