Button Disappointed to Miss Podium

The Briton had talked up his chances of winning at Suzuka before the race, but eventually slumped to fifth as his BAR simply lacked the speed of the cars in front of him.

"I'm obviously very disappointed to finish fifth after starting from second on the grid," he said. " I lost a place off the start but the early part of the race was looking good and I was able to keep pace with Fisichella.

"At my first stop the fuel flap failed to open and the crew had to do it manually, which lengthened my pitstop by over six seconds.  After that we were struggling for pace and then I lost another position in the second stop.  It's very frustrating from where we started and we have to do better in China."

Button's disappointment was nothing compared to teammate Takuma Sato's, who failed to shine in front of his home crowds. He ran off the track at the first corner and then got involved in a collision with Jarno Trulli to eventually finish 13 th.

"This is a very disappointing result for me after the incredible support that I have experienced here from the fans," explained Sato.

"The start was difficult and through the first corner I was side by side with Klien and ran wide.  Rubens came from behind, ran off in front of me and we made contact, which damaged the front of my car and then both of us went into the gravel.

"We changed the strategy but it didn't work well for me and then I had the coming together with Trulli which was another blow to my race.  I'm hugely disappointed for the myself, the fans, the team and Honda, but I will be back here racing at Suzuka."