• Chinese Grand Prix - Qualifying

Button wary of Kobayashi threat

Jenson Button struggled to get heat in to his tyres in Q3 and will start fifth © Getty Images

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• Report:
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• Race:
• Chinese Grand Prix

• Drivers:
• Jenson Button

• Teams:
• McLaren

Jenson Button has highlighted Kamui Kobayashi as the biggest threat of the cars head of him in tomorrow's Chinese Grand Prix.

Button lines up fifth on the grid behind both Mercedes, Kobayashi and Kimi Raikkonen in the Lotus. Having had the fastest car at each of the first two races Button is confident his McLaren will be able to take on those ahead but admitted Kobayashi's Sauber looked strong over a long run.

"Our aim will be to go for victory," Button said. "That won't be easy, but we ought to be as quick or quicker than most of the cars in front of us in the race. The unusual one is Kamui, who seems to have very good long-run pace."

Having only done one run during the final part of qualifying Button explained the reasons behind his strategy.

"I only had one set of tyres in Q3 so we waited until the first lot had done their runs and then went out so I could have a clean circuit. But you could just feel the temperature dropping and I think the best time of the session was at the beginning but even so fifth isn't too bad and we can race well from there."

Morning rain is forecast in Shanghai, but Button said he felt the track temperature would play a major role in the race even if the surface remains dry.

"It's a completely different grid from what we've seen so far, so an exciting first few laps. You'd say that the Mercedes on the front row, their race pace probably isn't as good as the cars right behind them so it's going to be an interesting race in terms of strategy. I think the weather will play a big part even if it doesn't rain just for the temperature change because when it's cool like this suddenly you lose all front grip. Well, I do anyway; I just can't get the tyres working. I've tried everything this weekend in cold conditions but it's been difficult. When the temperature's high the car feels great and this morning it felt very good. So there you have it, we've just got to hope for a hot day tomorrow."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.