BUTTON CASTS DOUBT OVER GP GOING AHEAD

Unrelenting rain throughout yesterday turned the two 90-minute practice sessions into damp squibs, with McLaren team- mate Lewis Hamilton even going for a wander down the pit lane in FP2, such was his boredom.

For the fans who had paid hard-earned money to watch Formula 1 in action, they at least saw some cars on track in the gathering gloom, but far from at full speed.

Large puddles and rivers did not help matters, leaving Button to wonder as to the prospects of racing tomorrow should there be no let-up.

“It’s quite scary out there, treacherous conditions, with a lot of standing water,” said the McLaren star, seeking his first podium in 13 home races.

“One of the worst places is Hangar Straight going into Stowe. You are doing 290kph and you cross a river that gives you wheelspin.

“When you get wheelspin in an F1 car it can snap very easily, so that’s probably the scariest place.

“When you are in a car on your own it’s not so bad, you can pick your way around, lift off where you want, but when you are in a pack it’s very difficult.

“You wouldn’t want to be racing in those conditions, going wheel to wheel because you can’t see the aquaplaning until you arrive.

“I can’t see us being allowed to race in these conditions, but qualifying, yes, so it’s useful to do some mileage out there, get an understanding of the car and the circuit.

“I just hope it’s not like this on Sunday, that there’s not so much standing water so we can really go racing.”

In stark contrast, Hamilton, who set the fastest time of the day of one minute 56.345secs, claimed to have “some fun out there”, finding the conditions “exciting”.

Hamilton added: “You grip on to the steering wheel more than you would normally do to ensure you are fully in control of the car.

“You are aquaplaning all the time, so you have to make sure you are in tune with your senses, more so than other times.”