Button in pole position for Grand Prix battle

Britain’s rising star of Formula One racing, Jenson Button, was in pole position to win the San Marino Grand Prix today.

The 24-year-old car dealer’s son clocked the fastest lap seen at Imola to secure the first pole position of his Formula One career, and the first for racing team BAR (British American Racing).

However, Button, from Frome, Somerset, will have six times world champion Michael Schumacher hot on his heals in second place on the circuit where Ayrton Senna died a decade ago.

Looking forward to the challenge, Button said: “Qualifying is one thing, but winning a race is the main goal, which is going to be a little tougher.

“But it’s a fantastic feeling to get pole here on Ferrari’s turf, so I’m very pleased. It was as good as I could have done because I was flat out.

“It will be the first time in my Formula One career I will have had nobody in front of me at the start, which is a positive, but it’s all down to me now.”

Team principal Dave Richards believes “cool, calm” Button will cope with the pressure. He said: “If he can get away cleanly, then let’s see what happens after that.

“But what has been a fairytale weekend so far has the potential for a fairytale ending.

“I am sure there will be no nerves from him ahead of the race. After all he’s sat on pole position for donkey’s years, since he was in karts at the age of eight, so I wouldn’t worry about it. He’s also a very cool, calm character, so I’m not in the slightest bit concerned.

“He’s also fulfilling all the promise we expected of him. I wouldn’t swap him for any other driver at the moment.”

Button, who has three older sisters, was named by his rallycross racing father after his favourite car, the Jensen. Aged just seven, he was given his first scrambling bike for Christmas.