By Phil Huff (13/06/2004)
June 13 2004

Lucky Strike BAR Honda's star driver Jenson Button took yet another front row grid slot in qualifying, so had to face the press in the traditional Fastest Three press conference. Jenson, I guess for a while there you probably thought you had the pole, again?

Yeah, I enjoyed the lap very much. I made one mistake in the hairpin, which probably cost me a bit of time, but it was a very good lap and to be a second quicker than Michael, for us we were very happy with that and it was good to get some cars in between us really. Then Ralf came along and pipped me at the end and it makes the start very difficult for me because I have got Jarno starting right behind me.

What was the mistake you made into the hairpin and also what do you think about the antics of your team-mate right at the end of his lap?

Yeah, I just braked a bit late and locked the front right slightly. It cost me a bit of time but, you know, that's part of it and I was pushing very hard. Taku, I am not really sure. I haven't seen his lap but I heard that he made a mistake on the last corner.

It was really so close, wasn't it?

It was, yeah. Before Ralf went out I was quite excited because I had seven tenths on everybody so, yeah, I am a little bit disappointed, as you would be when you think you are going to be first, but even so it is great to be on the front row.

Can you tell us how much that seven tenths is strategy and how much is a new spec engine?

I think me and Ralf just drove better than anybody else! (Laughter) No, I don't know. I think we have got a very good strategy for the race and I am sure the engine has helped us. It is not just in power but it is also in reliability, which is obviously something that is very important now in Formula One and something that Renault and Ferrari have had for the last few races, so hopefully it will help us in the race.

Everyone has been talking about brake problems. Have you had any so far?

Yeah, a few. I think that is normal for everyone. We do a lot of testing on Friday to make sure they are all okay and I think we will be okay in the race. We shouldn't have any major problems but we have to be very careful, obviously.

And second on the grid, I don’t know whether it is the left or right side but it was very interesting...

I don't know actually, is it left, I think?

Ralf Schumacher: No, it's the right side.

The clean side?

Ralf: Yeah.

With all that has been said in the past when you were team-mates with Jacques Villeneuve is this somewhat vindication for you now you are here on what would be his home course and you have performed quite well?

No, it didn't change the way I performed. I didn't perform better because this is Jacques' home circuit, but this is the first time I have ever gone well here. I have always struggled here in qualifying, last year was tough after (my crash in) Monaco in qualifying and in the race so it is a great feeling to be second on the grid and on the front row.

Last year when the GP was in question there was a lot of emotion about keeping it on the schedule. Could you relay a story about why the track is so popular amongst the drivers?

It is a fantastic city. I enjoy driving the circuit as well but I think it is quite a lot of fun and it has got a lot of history. There is only one circuit that has been around for longer I think, which is Monaco... um... I am guessing. It sounds good. (Laughter) It has been around for a while.

We saw clear advantage from the Michelin tyres in qualifying. What about the race conditions?

Yesterday we were struggling a little bit with consistency compared to Ferrari but today, this morning, we seem to have improved a lot when there is more rubber on the circuit and it is higher temperatures so it is good.

Can you explain something, I am a bit puzzled. With the best will in the world before the start of the season, nobody would have expected that Taku would be so close to you and out-performing you on occasions, so what is happening there? Is he just really, really underrated or is that car such a rocket ship that it actually masks the difference between the two of you?

Not at all. He has done a great job and he works as hard as anyone on the technical side. He has always been quick in the past. If people look back on what he has done in his career, he has only been racing for five or six years and he has won everything he has competed in. So he is a fantastic driver and as I said he works very hard at it so he deserves everything he gets because he is very quick.

So, had you expected that he would be pretty much shadowing you all season?

Yeah, because I was driving with him all last season and all the way through the winter and he has done a very good job. In testing he is fantastic, he is non-stop. His life seems to be Formula One – he lives for Formula One – and I think he has proved that on occasions. He has done a very good job this year.