Button fends off Renault
BAR-Honda's Jenson Button is delighted to be starting from third on the grid for Sunday's Chinese Grand Prix, not least because he's three slots ahead of the first Renault driver Fernando Alonso
BAR is in a battle with rivals Renault for second spot in the constructor's championship and has targeted beating the Anglo-French team this weekend above all else. Button admits that third on the grid is a good start.
"I had a good lap so I'm pleased to be starting the race from the second row of the grid," the Briton said. "I didn't have a great run in pre-qualifying; I had a few problems with the car but it was much better for qualifying. I don't think we could have got much more out of the car and I was particularly pleased with the last sector. The car is working very well and I think we have a good set-up and strategy for tomorrow.
"The important thing is that we have qualified well ahead of the Renaults which was our immediate target, so that gives us a good advantage off the line. Generally I'm looking forward to racing here for the first time tomorrow in what should be a very interesting Grand Prix."
Button will have to go it alone for the beginning of the race at least for team-mate Takuma Sato will start from 19th on the grid following his engine change on Friday. The Japanese driver qualified in ninth spot, but was forced to drop 10 places.
"It was a difficult day as we lost the whole of the second session yesterday, so I think that the team has done a really good job on all the requests for the set-up of the car," he said. "We have done the best that we could today and with a 10-position penalty we have had to work on our strategy to see how the best can be made of these difficult circumstances. Of course I am a little disappointed, but the circuit looks as though there will be some good overtaking opportunities, so overall I believe we should be in a strong position for the race tomorrow."
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