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Mercedes' world champion Lewis Hamilton left it until the
last five minutes to set a timed lap and was seventh on the
timesheets.
Hulkenberg led a practice session for the first time this season
after banging in a quick lap right at the finish, 0.052 quicker
than Mercedes' Nico Rosberg, for a best time of one minute
44.355 seconds.
Hamilton's time was of little significance ahead of a weekend
that could see his Mercedes team wrap up their second successive
constructors' title, and he would have been higher but for a
late spin.
The Briton, who leads team mate Rosberg by 48 points with five
races remaining, had been second fastest with two minutes to go
as the track got quicker.
The 90 minute session was reduced to an hour as workers hosed
and cleansed the track following the 'significant' spillage from
a truck that had been supposed to sweep the asphalt.
When drivers did go out, on wet tyres, it was on a slippery
track with ominous rainclouds replacing the early morning
sunshine.
"What a mess," exclaimed Ferrari's Sebastian Vettel, who was
third fastest, over the team radio after driving through the
affected turns seven and eight.
"It is really slippy," agreed Sauber's Swedish driver Marcus
Ericsson.
No time was set for the first 20 minutes before McLaren's
Fernando Alonso, who will start from the back of the grid due to
penalties for engine changes following a Honda upgrade, got
things rolling.
Rain is forecast for the second session.
(Editing by Amlan Chakraborty)
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