Experience vital for Button

JENSON BUTTON believes his experience around Suzuka can give him a crucial edge following yesterday’s rain-affected practice as he looks to take a step closer to securing his first world championship in Japan.

Following a damp morning session, persistent heavy rain saw limited running for all teams in the afternoon run as they sought to conserve their wet tyres in case the inclement weather persists into tomorrow’s qualifying and Sunday’s 53-lap race, with Brawn GP electing to keep both Button and team-mate Rubens Barrichello in the garage.

With the last two Japanese GPs having been held at Fuji, it means a large proportion of the current grid have yet to drive around the 3.608-mile track in the dry conditions predicted for the weekend’s action.