Hamilton was one of many standout performers of a moist last qualifying section on Friday afternoon, taking second behind McLaren’s Lando Norris.
The seven-time world champion mentioned his automobile “got here alive” within the moist, however he is reasonable about its potential if Saturday morning’s dash is held in dry situations.
“It was fairly tough situations. Not quite a lot of grip for everybody, however so pleased,” he instructed F1 TV.
“As quickly as I noticed the rain coming, I used to be so pleased as a result of within the dry situations, we aren’t fast sufficient.
“So, when the rain got here I believed I might have a little bit of a greater alternative and that is when all of it got here alive.”
“Whether it is like that [in the sprint race], then we now have an opportunity of being someplace up there. If it is dry then naturally, the Ferraris and Crimson Bulls will come by. Perhaps we are able to maintain off a few of the others.”
Group boss Toto Wolff was extra optimistic about Mercedes’ probabilities on Saturday, however cautioned that due to the dash format’s single apply session, there was restricted information accessible on China’s pecking order.
“We should always have the tempo within the dry,” he instructed Sky Sports activities F1. “I do not suppose we now have the tempo in opposition to the Crimson Bulls, however we do, I believe, in opposition to the McLarens.
“Having mentioned that, it is also we do not know. As a result of we now have no information from FP1, it may very well be that they’re much faster too, or the opposite method round.”
Mercedes struggled for tempo each within the dry SQ1 section and amid a late drizzle in SQ2, which noticed George Russell eradicated in eleventh.
George Russell, Mercedes F1 W15
Photograph by: Andy Hone / Motorsport Images
“We all know our automobile; when it comes to producing grip, it isn’t a straightforward job,” mentioned Wolff. “We failed in Q1, Q2, then obtained it proper in Q3.
“Clearly, the driving is most vital within the moist. However I believe it reveals it is about tyre preparation.
“We did the proper issues on the ultimate run; the tyres had been within the candy spot mixed with an excellent drive. That made the time.”
Russell mentioned his last lap was compromised by being behind the queue popping out of pitlane, which means it was powerful to convey his tyre as much as the proper temperature.
“It wasn’t straightforward in any respect, that one lap in Q2,” he defined.
“We tried sending it as early as we may, after which clearly obtained caught. I believe 12 automobiles had been forward of us, simply sat within the pit lane, so we had a lack of tyre temperature.
“After which it was shut, yet one more tenth and you might be 4 or 5 positions larger. It is only a disgrace to be on the underside finish of that, however we have an opportunity to recuperate within the dash race.”
