Rosberg targets points despite no top ten

The Williams driver failed to make the final cut to go into the top ten shootout and had to be content with 13th position.

Despite that, Rosberg admitted he was pleased with his team's progress and reckons he is in good shape for the race.

"It was all pretty close today and we had a good chance to make it into the top ten but it just didn't play out that way in the end," said Rosberg. "Nevertheless, I am still quite happy with the improvements in our car and we have taken a step forward.

"Out on track today it was a bit difficult, especially during my last runs because we had changeable conditions, with the wind intensity and direction constantly variable, which seemed to affect the car.

"Let's hope that tomorrow we can have a good race and score some points, which from P13 is a real possibility."

Teammate Kazuki Nakajima wound up 16th, the Japanese saying he had failed to extract the best from his car.

"Unfortunately today I don't think I managed to get everything out of the car in the last lap, especially in sector three where I realised I was being too conservative," Nakajima said.

"Because it was so tight at the end of Q1 today, it cost me quite badly, but with every lap, the feeling I have with the car is improving, so hopefully I will have a better race."