• Turkish Grand Prix - Qualifying

Button disappointed with sixth

ESPNF1 Staff
May 7, 2011 « Rosberg: 'We're getting ever closer' | »
Jenson Button will start directly behind his team-mate Lewis Hamilton, as he was outqualified for the third time this season © Sutton Images
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Jenson Button said he had hoped for better than sixth place on the grid for tomorrow's Turkish Grand Prix.

Having topped the timesheets in second practice on Friday, Button looked well set to be competitive in qualifying despite the growing threat of Mercedes. However, he said he was unable to find a good balance in his McLaren, as Red Bull locked out the front row and Button was outqualified by Nico Rosberg, his team-mate Lewis Hamilton and even Ferrari's Fernando Alonso.

"Sixth position isn't great," Button said. "But we can still do well: Mark Webber had a good race from 18th in China, so we can definitely have a good race from sixth. Maybe I should have just done a single run for Q3 because my second run wasn't any faster than my first - and you tend to lose time if you push these tyres too hard. But to be honest I couldn't get a really good balance in qualifying.

Button also said that being on the dirtier side of the grid was going to be an issue at the start of the race, but that he was confident in the MP4-26's race pace.

"It's difficult to know people's overall pace from Friday running because the changeable weather has mixed everything up. I'd hoped for more but we'll see what happens. It's a pity that I'm on the dirty side of the track - it might cause a few problems with the getaway into Turn One tomorrow - but we're competitive. We'll be in the running tomorrow."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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