Jenson Button says early switch to medium rubber was crucial to Brazilian Grand Prix podium

The 2009 world champion was running fourth, between Fernando Alonso's Ferrari and his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, and struggling on soft rubber when the decision was made to switch the Briton.

During the second half of the race Button used two sets of the medium tyres, enabling him to overtake Alonso for the final podium spot with nine laps to go.

"I had no pace on the softer tyres, so I used the harder rubber in the last two stints and it worked pretty well," said Button.

"Ferrari struggled on the harder tyres and I managed to make the pass [on Alonso]. Every lap was like a qualifying lap."

While on soft tyres earlier in the race, Button had lost third spot to Alonso as the Spaniard pulled off a spectacular move around the outside into the Ferradura right-hander.

Button though, said he was powerless to defend from the Spaniard due to debris on the circuit that he was keen to avoid.

"Fernando was very close out of Turn 5 and so I covered line for Turn 6 [Ferradura]. Normally it's quite easy to block there.

"I looked back to see where he was, then looked back in front and saw lots of debris on the inside, from Michael's puncture I think.

"I didn't want to drive through it so I backed off but I couldn't go left because he was already there, so I just had to pull in behind him."