Heidfeld wishing for rain on Sunday

BMW-Sauber driver Heidfeld will start from fifth place behind the two McLarens and the two Ferraris.

"I am very happy with fifth," said Heidfeld. "I hoped at the start I had a slight chance of catching one of the Ferraris in the wet conditions, but it didn't work out.

"Qualifying wasn't easy, but in general the grip level of this circuit in the wet is pretty good.

"During the final laps I couldn't improve, as the last set of new tyres degraded too quickly. The weather forecast currently varies, but if I had my choice I would wish for a race under wet conditions."

Teammate Robert Kubica, on the other hand, was left wishing for a dry Grand Prix after having to settle for tenth position in today's qualifying.

"It was not very good for me at all during qualifying," he said. "Unfortunately we missed some experience of running in the wet. I had graining and I don't think our timing was right in qualifying three.

"We now have to see how the weather is tomorrow, although on today's performance I would prefer dry."