Renault struggles on new track

The Briton and Italian were just 19th and 20th respectively after the two free practice sessions on Friday. The team could not find a good balance with its R202s.

Button said: "A difficult day for me. The new circuit is OK, but we had trouble finding the balance we need to go quickly. We can't find grip at the front or at the rear of the car - as soon as we get it at one end, we lose it at the other, and vice versa."

Trulli's second session was ruined by a spin which left him beached in a gravel trap.

"It's very simple: I made a mistake at Turn 13 on my first run in the afternoon, and spun," he explained. "It's a shame that I managed to find one of the few gravel traps still left here.

"In terms of the new layout, it's not very exciting, just a question of braking, turning and accelerating. Only the last section is a little bit interesting."

Renault engine man Denis Chevrier said: "We were a little surprised by the characteristics of the new track, meaning our preparation proved less than perfect, with obvious consequences for today's programme. Our knowledge of the circuit was also limited by Jarno's spin: unlike many other drivers, he was unlucky not to be able to recover the situation."