Surprised Button Happy with Front Row

Although the position owed much to the late-session downpour that left several front-runners, including World Champion Fernando Alonso, near the back of the grid - Button said his car had been far from ideal on his qualifying lap.

"It was very difficult," said Button. "On the out lap I knew I had some big issues. I had massive understeer and I couldn't get my front tyres to work, I don't know if it was temperature or just not enough wing on the car.

"It just felt like a very, very slow lap, so to be P2 I am reasonably happy. I am sure all of us have set the car up for tomorrow in the race but for us we are very positive and think we can have a very good home race for the team."

Button is now upbeat about the team's chances despite recent struggles with the BAR007's pace over race distances.

"It is never going to be easy, even if the McLarens are so far back," explained Button. "We also have got Giancarlo here at the front with us.

"It is going to be an exciting race and I think we have a better car here in race trim than we have had at the last couple of races. We have solved a few of the problems we have had so we think it will be a strong race for us."