Button 'chuffed to bits' after pole

The championship leader beat Ferrari rival Kimi Raikkonen with his now usual late effort, emerging just 0.025 seconds ahead of the Finn at the circuit where the top spot could be crucial for the race.

Brawn driver Button admitted the whole session had been very tight, and the Briton was delighted with his second pole in a row.

"It means a lot - they all do," said Button. "Today was a really tight fight, all weekend I have been fighting with Rubens and he has definitely had the upper hand. McLaren has been up there, Ferrari up there, the Red Bulls, it has been a fun weekend.

"Qualifying was no different, it was manic, but great to come away with the pole - to snatch pole I am chuffed to bits."

Button said the weekend had not started perfectly for him, but the British driver managed to recover to emerge as favourite for another victory.

"It might look like it (perfect) from the outside," he said. "I was a long way off in P1 on Thursday and didn't know where we were, but all weekend we have improved it a little bit, that is the great thing with this year's car."

Button, winner of four of the first five races of the year, said he is expecting a difficult race tomorrow.

"You enjoy the moment, but it is strange because it is a lot more stressful than you think. You want to stay in this position obviously. At this point of the season every time I need to score points.

"It is not going to be easy, it is difficult to overtake here, but for sure it is not going to be easy. The way things are going this season it is a fantastic feeling, so thanks again and hopefully we can have a good day tomorrow."