Button predicts 'interesting' tussle

Jenson Button will be the man in the middle as the battle between Fernando Alonso and Michael Schumacher springs to life at the start of the Chinese Grand Prix.

With world champion Alonso on pole position and Schumacher in sixth spot, Button sits between the two after qualifying fourth at the Shanghai International Circuit.

That will put him in the perfect position to watch the battle for this year’s drivers’ crown unfold as Schumacher attempts to overhaul the two-point advantage currently held by Alonso.

The Spaniard took top spot on the grid in a qualifying session run in the rain and, as a result of his pole position berth, Button believes Alonso will have the opportunity to put his failure to finish at the Italian Grand Prix behind him.

“One weekend things go against Fernando when he has his engine failure and this weekend everything’s gone in his favour,” said Button.

“It’s really interesting and this is the way the championship should be. The tyre manufacturers are making it interesting I think.”

Both Button and Alonso are using Michelin tyres which have given them a marked advantage in the wet over drivers such as Schumacher who are using Bridgestones.

As a result, the Englishman is backing Alonso for the race win, but still believes the title race is open as it reaches its climax.

“For this race you have to say Fernando, wet or dry,” he said. “If you’re comparing those two, it doesn't mean he’s got the championship. I still think Michael’s got a very good chance.”

Button is joined by team mate Rubens Barrichello in an all-Honda second row after posting exactly the same time as the Brazilian, and he was delighted with the team’s strong showing.

“I’m very happy,” he said. “Qualifying was good although it was in very tough conditions. It was very, very wet with a lot of rivers running across the circuit. But for the team to be third and fourth on the grid is very good and I’m very happy with my position.

“I’m hoping it’s going to be the same conditions because this is where our car seems to work best, but if it’s dry also I think we can have a good race, it’s just a little bit more difficult with the grooved tyres because we don’t know where we are with those.

“I’m very confident. I think we’ve got a good car for the race. If the weather’s like this, our car seems to work well in these conditions. I think that the Renaults are very strong but apart from them we are looking pretty good.”