Button enjoys best session of '01

The British star qualified ninth for tomorrow's Japanese Grand Prix, although team mate Giancarlo Fisichella will start higher up the grid once again. The Italian qualified sixth, which was his season best too.

"This was definitely a good day - our most successful qualifying effort this season," said Button. "We have made steady progress throughout the year. With the set-up we used today I had a little bit of understeer and it was difficult to find a perfect balance, but overall I think we are in good shape for tomorrow."

Benetton has made big gains in the second half of the season, thanks to Renault's progress with its revolutionary engine. Both drivers are confident of racing well at Suzuka which will mark Benetton's farewell to Formula 1 before the team is renamed Renault for next year.

Fisichella said: "It's a big satisfaction, especially as we had some problems yesterday that delayed today's programme. I ran with the new engine specification and the car had a very good balance."

Benetton's director of engineering Pat Symonds said: "With a result like this I guess the season is finishing too early for us. Our hope for this year was to lay strong foundations for 2002. I hope that we have done that today."

The team is equal on points with Jaguar in the constructors' championship and they will battle it out for seventh place tomorrow. Eddie Irvine will start 13th, with Pedro de la Rosa 16th.