Wet track clouds Hamilton's Turkish GP preparations

(GETTY IMAGES)

The prospect of rain and the impact it will have on tyres was uppermost in the thoughts of the Formula One drivers and their engineers here yesterday.

"None of us have had a lot of time on the wet weather Pirelli tyres," admitted Lewis Hamilton, the winner of this race last year in the aftermath of the dramatic collision of Sebastian Vettel and Mark Webber, and of the most recent grand prix, in China. "We need to find the right pressures and to balance the car."

Both Hamilton and Ferrari's Felipe Massa expressed their regret that this is likely to be the last Turkish Grand Prix, as rumours suggest the event will be dropped to make way for the US Grand Prix in Texas next year.

"This is a great track for racing and generally provides good overtaking opportunities and had high-speed corners," Hamilton said. Massa, three times a winner from pole here, said: "It's a very special place for me."