Michael Schumacher on Friday shrugged off a major crash during a rain-hit second practice session for the Hungarian Grand Prix, saying he had simply run out of track.
The 43-year-old seven-time drivers world champion lost control of his Mercedes car and crashed into the tyre barriers after he careered off the circuit in treacherous wet conditions at the Hungaroring circuit.
He locked his front wheels and appeared to aquaplane across the wet asphalt before hitting the barriers. His car was badly damaged, notably at the front end, but he was unhurt and walked away.
Schumacher said it was a strange accident, but he played down its significance.
He said: "I just ran out of road. I locked up and I couldn't stop the car anymore.
"I didn't think it was aquaplaning. It's a bit strange, but nevertheless, you have to put a cross on it and forget about it."
He wound up 10th in the session one place ahead of his Mercedes team-mate and fellow-German Nico Rosberg.
Schumcher also crashed in difficult slippery circumstances at the German Grand Prix last weekend.
But Schumacher said he would welcome rain in the race because he believed it would improve the Mercedes team's prospects for success.
He said: "I think the rain might be an opportunity as we have seen at Silverstone, so let's see what happens."
Team-mate Rosberg conceded his car was not as strong as he was hoping for ahead of the start of the weekend action.
"It was a decent day of testing," he said. "Not a very promising day for us. I expected to be stronger. We tried some major things, especially on my car but it didn't really work out."
