Button settles for sixth after nightmare weekend

Jenson Button was happy to settle for sixth in qualifying for the Italian Grand Prix after a “nightmare” weekend so far.

The 26-year-old was unable to even turn a lap on Friday after serious Honda engine trouble and saw his preparations today disrupted as well.

Despite that, he claimed a third-row start at Monza and set his sights on doing even better in the race.

He said: “It has been a tough weekend. I didn’t do any running on Friday and then this morning I didn’t get to run new tyres because part of the car fell off so we stopped.

“We went out with new tyres in first qualifying and then got the red flag so it has been a nightmare.

“To be sixth I am pretty happy as we are struggling to get one lap out of the car this weekend. I think we have a good package for the rac and compared to Turkey I think we are stronger.

“I was very happy with the lap – I don’t think I could have done any better. I am looking at a better result than sixth in the race – our race pace is surprisingly good. It’s going to be better than sixth.”

Fellow British hopeful David Coulthard was less impressed with his own qualifying effort.

He missed the cut in second qualifying and must start down in 14th on a track he claims shows up Red Bull’s failings.

He said: “I think we are all disappointed with our rate of development and we are firmly at the back of the main group of cars on this type of circuit.

“Unfortunately, this type of track tends to highlight some deficiencies of our overall package.”

Coulthard’s former McLaren team-mate Kimi Raikkonen snatched pole position from Ferrari’s Michael Schumacher in the dying seconds while world championship leader Fernando Alonso starts fifth.