By Phil Huff (24/04/2004)
April 24 2004

For the first time in his F1 career, Jenson Button had to face the press as pole sitter, with Michael Schumacher and Juan-Pablo Montoya sitting alongside. Here's what he had to stay... Jenson, what a lap, what a fantastic lap, here on Ferrari's home soil too!

Thank you. It was, it was a great lap and I enjoyed it very much. In pre-qualifying I was a little wide because I had very low grip, but in proper qualifying it seemed to be all there, it seemed to be very similar to this morning's car, so I was very happy, and I don't think there were any mistakes.

It looked like a perfect lap. You spoke after Bahrain, after the race, of perhaps wanting to concentrate more on the set-up for qualifying. Is that what happened here?

We set the car up for the race, as everybody does but we were lacking in qualifying a little bit. I don't know why. We seemed to lose a lot of time when we got to qualifying, but here we seemed to have resolved that problem – well, obviously we have.

You can't escape the atmosphere here at Imola, it is tremendous. You're on the pole for this race; describe your feelings about the race for tomorrow?

I can't wait. Qualifying is one thing, but obviously winning a race is the main goal. I think that's going to be a little bit tougher than today's qualifying. But yeah, I'm looking forward to it. It's the first time in my Formula One career that I've had nobody in front of me at the start, so it's all down to me now.

Jenson congratulations. You keep breaking down these records, your own personal bests. What does this one mean?

I'm pleased we've got no cars in front, which is a positive definitely. It is a fantastic feeling to get pole here especially on Ferrari's turf and I'm very pleased.

It seemed that all the time came in the final sector, a full half-a-second in the final sector. Did you concentrate on that?

The final sector was very good this morning. It is just trying not to overheat the tyres too much for the last sector. It was a great lap and I don't think I made a mistake anywhere round.

The first two sectors were good as well?

As good as I could have done. I was flat out.

The final sector, that is all about keeping the rear tyres together is it, or cool?

It is and there is the top chicane, which is pretty tough, which I think I have gained a lot of time over the week, but also the last chicane. Obviously you have got to be very careful through there because the kerbs are quite big and it is very easy to unsettle the car.

What is the team's reaction to Michael's fairly short stints over the last couple of races? You haven't by any chance gone for a similar strategy, have you?

Our strategies seem to work every race we've been to for us. We've been very strong on the last few stints and that is important for us and we are looking at the end result.

Jenson do you remember your last pole position?

No. It was a long time ago. It would have been in '99 in Formula Three. I went go-karting last year but I don't think that counts!

Did you come here for the winter test?

No.

So it was even more important?

We've been here for the last four years so I've gained a lot of experience over that time. You know people have been on pole in their first season. I think it is more of an achievement for the whole team really. We're still a young team and it is an impressive goal.