Button's Monaco GP in Doubt after Accident

Briton Jenson Button could miss Sunday's Monaco Formula One Grand Prix after he crashed heavily in free practice and sat out Saturday's final qualifying.

The 23-year-old BAR driver was fortunate to escape serious injury but was taken to the Mediterranean principality's Princess Grace hospital where he faced an anxious wait to hear whether he can compete or not.

"The team will seek medical advice tomorrow morning as to whether he is fit to take part in the race," BAR said in a statement.

Button, third fastest in Thursday's first qualifying, crashed at the tunnel exit - the fastest point of the street circuit where cars reach speeds of up to 290 km/h. The team withdrew him from qualifying.

"He has been given a full medical...which included the usual precautionary x-rays and scans," BAR said. "The team are relieved to confirm that he has not sustained any physical injuries.

"However he is suffering from slight nausea which is understandable given the severity of the accident."

A spokeswoman for the International Automobile Federation (FIA) said Button would remain under observation until 1700 GMT. BAR said the driver touched the barrier under braking as he roared out of the tunnel towards the harbourside chicane, skidding sideways and slamming into a tyre barrier in front of a tree. The session was immediately halted.

Button remained fully conscious in his shattered car for 10 minutes while doctors attended to him with an ambulance waiting nearby.

Austrian Karl Wendlinger had a huge smash at the same point in practice for the 1994 race and was in a coma for days afterwards. Although he returned to the track the following year, it effectively ended his career.

The track has since been redesigned and safety improved considerably since that incident. The accident was also a psychological blow for Button, who has been fast improving this season and had hoped for the first podium of his career this weekend.

The young Monaco resident equalled his career-best finish in the last race in Austria, finishing fourth, and had been the quickest of the non-Ferrari drivers on Thursday. He has also outqualified Canadian teammate and former champion Jacques Villeneuve in four of the six races prior to Monaco.