'Same story as before' - Hamilton

Lewis Hamilton was fifth quickest in the morning session © Getty Images

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Lewis Hamilton says he doesn't know if McLaren, Red Bull or Ferrari has made a step forward ahead of the Belgian Grand Prix, but that all three teams are competitive.

Hamilton set the fourth fastest time during the window of dry running that the teams got in FP2, and was within half a second of pace-setter Mark Webber. With the rest of Friday practice heavily affected by rain, it was difficult to read in to overall lap times, and Hamilton told reporters in Spa that all he could work out was that it was still a three-horse race at the front.

"I think it's impossible at the moment to say where we are," Hamilton said. "I think we're competitive, I think Ferrari are competitive I think Red Bull are competitive; that's the same story as before the holidays. So I don't know who has made the bigger step forward, we'll wait and see tomorrow I guess. These conditions make it very tough, but everyone is in the same boat. I just hope we make the right choices this weekend in terms of the conditions."

Hamilton also said that the key to success during the weekend was going to be getting the right setup on Sunday due to the unpredictable weather.

"I think it's going to be about choosing the right downforce level. We don't know whether it's going to be dry or wet, it will be changeable conditions perhaps like it was today, so it's going to be down to good strategy and looking after tyres. It's going to be interesting."

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