Button Confident of Beating the McLarens

Briton Jenson Button set his sights on a top-five qualifying spot for Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix after putting in an impressive performance for his Renault team in the Friday practice sessions at the sunny Circuit de Catalunya.

The 22-year-old driver is currently fourth in the Championship and is aiming to beat countryman David Coulthard of McLaren, as he searches for the first podium of his career this weekend and bids to continue as Britain's top driver.

Button finished third fastest, behind Ferrari's Michael Schumacher and the Arrows of Heinz-Harald Frentzen, in the Friday session and insisted his car is well prepared and he can improve his pace even further before the qualifying session.

"I can be quicker tomorrow," he insisted. "I should be able to qualify in the top five and then chase a podium finish - and, of course, I believe we should be able to beat the McLarens again."

Coulthard and his Mercedes-powered outfit have struggled to justify their pre-season tag as challengers to the Ferrari and Williams-BMW teams this year and Button is preparing to steal that opportunity from his rival.

"We thought that fourth place would be good for us, but now we are aiming for third," said Button, whose performances have improved so much this season he has been linked with moves to Jaguar and Ferrari and a return to Williams for 2003.

But he is likely to stay put at Renault because he believes they will be challenging for wins in 2003, and insisted he has not spoken to Ferrari about becoming Schumacher's partner at the Italian team next year.

"I've heard the stories and seen a lot of stuff in the papers about me and Ferrari," he admitted. "But I have not been contacted directly at all. I am happy here anyway and if I am free to choose what I do, I would be happy to stay."