Monaco GP: Jenson Button says McLaren could've 'easily' made top 10

Button narrowly missed out on making Q3 due to a yellow flag at Sainte Devote on his final Q2 lap, while Alonso's car stopped early in the second qualifying segment with a suspected electrical problem.

Alonso believes that McLaren could have had a car as high as sixth on the grid if everything had gone to plan, while Button is certain that he would have made it into the top 10 without the disruption caused by the yellow flags.

"I lost a lot of time lifting for the yellow flag and I gained most of it back," said Button.

"I was only a tenth off my quickest lap so it would've easily been into the top 10.

"We are still a long way from the front but we are making good progress and we should be happy with what we are doing right now."

Alonso, who is unsure if his car will need any changes that will result in a grid penalty following his failure, added: "We could fit both cars around sixth, seventh, eighth.

"Next time we need to improve performance and reliability, because we are too fragile."

Both drivers believe Button, who will start 11th due to Romain Grosjean's grid penalty for changing his gearbox, is well-placed to score McLaren's first top-10 finish of 2015 on Sunday.

"It's a good chance to score points," said Button. "But it would have been a much bigger chance if we had got into the top 10 in qualifying.

"A lot could happen - it could end in Turn 1 but it could also be a great result.

"Hopefully we'll reward the team with a point or two tomorrow."

Alonso was less optimistic about his own chances from 14th on the grid.

"Hopefully Jenson has a chance to be in the top 10," he said. "In my case, I think not.

"I don't want to sound too pessimistic but this is Monaco and the race is finished on Saturday.

"It's a train of cars on Sunday, and if nothing happens I'll finish where I start.

"But hopefully we can put some laps in and improve our weaknesses."