Bahrain GP: Button warns not to expect another strategy miracle

The McLaren driver was delighted to make the cut for Q3 in Bahrain, and he then opted not to set a time to give him free tyre choice for the start of the race.

Button and McLaren pulled off an alternative strategy to finish fifth at Shanghai last weekend - making only two stops - but the 2009 champion has warned that the MP4-28 is not quick enough on the Sakhir circuit to make something similar work this weekend.

"I don't want people to expect too much out of us," said Button. "It's going to be a tough day tomorrow.

"But we're always going to be positive and every time I jump in the car I try to go as quick as I can."

Button hinted that while an alternative strategy is unlikely to yield as much as it did last weekend, McLaren is still likely to try something different to the frontrunners.

"Maybe a two-stop strategy is on the cards," he said.

"Most of the time we are doing something different to other people because we have to. We'll see what we can do.

"We're definitely on for points and it would be good to come away with both cars in the points."

Team-mate Sergio Perez, who was eliminated in Q2, said that his qualifying strategy was built around putting himself in better shape for the race.

"I'm not concerned," said the Mexican. "I put my car in the best possible position for tomorrow and it made qualifying really difficult.

"We are looking after the tyres and it will make the difference tomorrow."