Button's balancing act

For Jenson Button, who has become used to challenging for top six places this season, it was a disappointment, but he knows there is still sufficient time for the team to reverse its fortunes.

"I had a difficult time today, struggling with the balance which is something we need to work on some more," said Button, who was 14th. "We still haven't finalised our tyre choice, but we know the direction we need to work in tomorrow. I now have to wait for the next sessions to try out what we hope will be the answers to our difficulties."

Team-mate Jarno Trulli was a couple of tenths down on Button in 17th and he echoed the Englishman's calls for improved balance.

"A normal day during which we conducted our basic race preparation," he said. "While testing the different tyre compounds, we succeeded in finding a decent set-up. Overall, it was a good day for me."