Button upbeat after qualifying boost

Despite being outqualified by teammate Rubens Barrichello, who ended the day 11th, Button was upbeat about Honda's progress with the RA108, even at this early stage in the season.

"I think everyone was a little bit surprised by our pace here if you look at pre-season testing, but personally I really screwed up my lap - I made two really big mistakes," he told UK broadcaster ITV.

Button was genuinely disappointed not to have made it into Q3 and believes his car was more the capable of a top ten grid slot.

"I'm personally disappointed, but really happy for the team," he said. "It's so close, from where I am to P8 is two tenths, so any mistakes and that's what happens: you're back in P13. It's exciting, and I think it's great for the sport that there are so many teams in the middle pack that are so close.

"You've got to get the lap together and you can't make any silly mistakes."

Button added that he believes the team were now on an upward curve and said that he was excited about developments scheduled for the car through the season.

"To start the season where we have is a good starting point," he said. "We haven't actually done much testing with this aero package, so we're going to improve over the next couple of races, and then in Barcelona we get another step, and three or four races on we get another step. If we can keep moving forward from this, I'll be very happy."

Barrichello was equally upbeat about the Honda's potential.

"Last year we brought new things from the wind tunnel, but they never worked on the car," he said. "This year they told us what (the parts) would do, what characteristics it would have, and at Jerez it did exactly that. So I am in love with the team, I am in love with the progress we have made - it's very positive."