Narrow escape for Button as traffic set to play role in qualifying

Jenson Button says that traffic is a big issue in Melbourne after narrowly avoiding contact with Pedro de la Rosa in the second Friday session.

Button was on a quick lap when he came across the Sauber driver, and he had to change direction when the Spaniard tried to move out of the way. With 24 cars running and drivers often slowing at the end of the lap to create some space for their flying laps there were a few other near misses, and there could be further problems come qualifying. Indeed it’s very possible that a top driver could find themselves stuck, especially towards the end of Q2.

“It’s so busy on the track when all the cars are running,” said Button after the session. “And it’s difficult to get a gap, especially with the different speeds. Our car is working well round here, and it’s a positive in that way. The problem is that you catch a lot of cars. I had a lot of traffic, and in the last seven laps, I never got a clear lap once.

“Pedro at the end was in the way coming out of the quick left/right, which is obviously a very dangerous place. I’ve spoken to Pedro, we’ve talked about it, and it’s fine. I don’t think it’s so much down to the guys, a lot of it is down to the team letting us know who’s around, because it’s very difficult to see in these cars behind.”

Button finished the session in second place, 0.2s off team mate Lewis Hamilton. But it was clear that McLaren were pursuing a low fuel qualifying set-up, others were not.

“It’s only practice and I’m sure we’re lighter than some of the quick cars out there, the cars that were quick in Bahrain. But tomorrow we’ll see where we actually stand. It’s important for us to be doing what we are, to get a good balance with the car, and a good feeling with the car.

“I’ve been happy since lap one we’ve driven here. We’ve just been trying to tweak the balance of the car, but it’s been very difficult because of the tough conditions and also the traffic on the circuit. Both tyres are working well, so it’s positive.”