Button qualifying disappointment

"It's always disappointing to qualify 12th," said Button, "and even more so to do it here at Silverstone. The engine went at Becketts on my first timed lap, but the guys did a great job to get the T-car ready. It was always going to be difficult because of the differences between the two cars.

"Even though we worked on the balance of the car, we didn't find the right set-up. It's going to be a tough day tomorrow."

Renault technical director Mike Gascoyne believed that Button did a good job in the spare car, which was running with an old engine.

"I am very disappointed for Jenson," he said. "Driving a T-car without the new bodywork and with a low specification engine, he was always going to struggle. We need to make good starts and score points tomorrow."

Team-mate Jarno Trulli was pleased to set the seventh fastest qualifying time after a trouble-free session.

"It was a good session after a difficult day," said the Italian. "We worked on the problems with the front end, and solved most of them for qualifying. The car didn't feel too bad. I'm pleased to be seventh, and I should be able to score points.

"It's a shame for Jenson, as it would have been good for the team to have qualified both cars where they should be on the grid."