• Bahrain Grand Prix - Qualifying

Button worried about race start

ESPNF1 Staff
April 21, 2012 « Vettel praises team for recovery | Webber 'pretty surprised' with Red Bull pace »
Jenson Button was less than 0.3s off pole position © Sutton Images
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Jenson Button is concerned that McLaren will be hampered by starting on the dirty side of the grid in Sunday's Bahrain Grand Prix.

After Sebastian Vettel took pole position Lewis Hamilton and Button will be starting second and fourth respectively, on the right hand side of the grid. With track conditions having improved markedly as the race weekend has progressed, the grip level off the racing line is very low and Button admitted getting a good start would be tough.

"A good launch tomorrow will be very important," Button said. "Both Lewis and I will be starting on the dirty side of the grid, which makes things more difficult, so we'll need to get it right. Tyre management will be crucial too. I'm looking forward to the challenge."

Despite that concern, Button was buoyed by the improvement in his car having struggled during Friday practice.

"Fourth position wasn't quite what I'd been hoping for, but it's not too bad," Button said. "It's always a horrible feeling on your final Q3 lap when the balance isn't quite where you want it. I couldn't get the best from the car so I pitted early to save the tyres. Besides, fourth isn't too bad anyway.

"The car is definitely a lot better than it was yesterday - we made some improvements overnight. We'd expected the Red Bulls to be very quick in qualifying, so to be close to them is a positive. A nice surprise is that we're ahead of Nico [Rosberg] who was on pole just a week ago."

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