Jenson Button Q&A

A delay in the pits for Rubens Barrichello allowed Button to run ahead of a Ferrari for many laps, although the true picture was revealed when Barrichello got past and eventually finished some 42s ahead. Nevertheless it was a good overall showing by the Englishman, who beat the likes of David Coulthard and Ralf Schumacher. Adam Cooper spoke to him afterwards.


"I've had a few fourth places, but still haven't got on the podium. I was hoping that Raikkonen and Barrichello would actually crash. A horrible thing to say! But fourth is good from where we started, and what I'm working with at the moment. I think that everyone did a fantastic job in good circumstances, really. We had a very good car, and everything seemed to be working well. We were very reliable. But we need to do it again - you can't just do it in one race. We have to be consistent."


"It is very satisfying. We did it through speed rather than people falling off, for example in Malaysia last year. So it's very satisfying. The car's been working well all weekend, and it was good for the mechanics to see what they can do when we're fighting the top teams, and they did a good job in the pit stops. It was nice to get out in front of a Ferrari after the first stop. I don't know how they did it!"


"Yes, but it was very tough. At that point in the race I had quite a lot of oversteer, because I ran new tyres at the rear, and I think they were graining, so I had a big problem on braking with oversteer, so he was able to get past. He was so much quicker anyway."


"It was alright. I was a bit worried, because normally the Bridgestones don't work as well in the damp conditions as the Michelins, but they seemed to work well. I had a few moments, but I stayed on, and that's the main thing, and was actually catching the Ferrari in front. It was mostly wet in the two slow corners out the back, which of course is a problem on braking."


"Just keeping it on the road. I had a little bit of oversteer, so I was just being a little bit cautious, and I had lots of cars a lap behind in front. But it was a great feeling crossing the line."


"We stayed on the circuit and we didn't crash. I think that's the biggest reason! We have been unlucky in races. We have had small improvements in the engine every race, and aerodynamically, which is going to help, but more importantly we just got it all together this race."


"I was very excited to be seventh yesterday, but I couldn't really talk it up too much, because then everyone would have an idea of what our strategy was. It's fantastic. It's great to have a fourth position, and it's just a little bit annoying that we haven't had it beforehand, because we deserve it."


"We're not on the pace of Ferrari or McLaren, but this is the first place where we could show our pace in the race. We've just got to keep it going and be consistent. I think we did it through merit, and that's the most exciting thing. It's difficult to know where we stand against other teams. In this race we looked like the third best team, after McLaren and Ferrari. When we go to another circuit we've just got to wait and see."


"It is a little bit disappointing. But I think the reason McLaren is slower on Friday is they go out first. But everyone seems to find a bit of pace when they put fuel in, compared to us, so it's something we need to look at."


"I think we probably would. I don't like the way qualifying is, and I think we probably would be qualifying higher on Saturdays, so it's something we need to work on and try and find out what the problem is. But it's the same for everybody."


"We need to. I think fifth is a definite possibility for this season. Fourth is very difficult with the Renaults scoring so many points at the start of the season. But we're going to try."


"I think we have to hope that the tyres are good in Monaco. We've been testing tyres, and they seem to be working well. But the car should be good everywhere. This has been coming for a long time, but we've just been unlucky in races."