Brazilian GP: Sergio Perez crash 'looked worse than it was'

Sergio Perez shrugged off his crash in his final Formula 1 qualifying session with McLaren in Brazil

The Mexican crashed out during the latter stages of Q2 after losing the back end over the kerbs at Turn 5.

He attributed his swift exit from the session to a lack of tyre pressure.

"We made a mistake with the tyre pressures because the car was not responding at all," Perez said. "I was trying to improve on my final lap, but I couldn't find any grip at all.

"The crash looked far worse than it was."

Perez was still able to outqualify team-mate Jenson Button by one place as he took 14th.

Button reckoned a lack of running on the intermediate tyre during Friday's practice sessions was his main issue.

He managed to post a competitive lap time during the first segment of qualifying - less than a second off the ultimate pace - when track conditions were at their best, but suffered when the rain became heavier during Q2.

"We sat out most of practice to save the tyres," said Button. "It seemed like the right thing to do, but we haven't run on intermediates in the wet, only in the dry.

"I struggled in Q2 because there was so much water on the circuit, and I think we've proven it was the wrong call to save the tyres."

Button starts the final grand prix of the season in 15th place and is staring down the barrel of his first win-less season since 2008.

He confessed that he is glad this year's campaign is coming to an end and is eager to put it behind him.

"One more day of pain and hopefully we can start work on a good car for next year.