Button: Ferrari are Untouchable

Jenson Button has ruled out the prospect of Michael Schumacher being beaten in the European Grand Prix at the Nurburgring after the World Champion claimed pole position for Sunday's race.

BAR-Honda driver Button was left disappointed after qualifying in fifth place as his teammate Takuma Sato secured a best-ever second place on the grid behind Schumacher.

But Button, third in the Championship standings, is convinced that the race pace of Ferrari is significantly better the BAR and the rest of the grid, and he holds little hope of preventing Schumacher from claiming victory.

"Taku did a good lap, nice and clean, but the Ferraris are so strong in the race I think they are pretty much untouchable," said Button, who denied Schumacher pole position in San Marino in April. "It was a very impressive lap compared to what they've (Ferrari) been doing in practice, pretty unbelievable.

"I think they probably took out quite a bit of fuel but even so their race pace is so much quicker. I think they are probably about a second a lap quicker than us during the race. We've just got to hope Taku's start is good and maybe he can get in front of Michael at the first corner."

Button is looking for his fifth podium in six races, but fears having the quick-starting Renault of Fernando Alonso alongside him on the grid will cost him a position at the beginning of the race.

"We need to move forward but Fernando Alonso is obviously starting behind and we need to keep him behind," he added. "You can't plan the start of the race so our strategy won't change. We need to move forward. Our aim is always to be on the podium and fighting for podium finishes. Everyone seems to be quick over one lap around me but over a race distance I think we are stronger.

"I expected to be a lot further forward and have a better lap time. That was a big surprise because we have been quicker than the Renaults and the Ferraris all weekend. I had a bad lap, but for both of us to be destroyed by Michael as we were is really surprising."